What is quale?

A quale is a philosophical term used to refer to the subjective or qualitative aspect of experience. It describes the way that we experience things, and it is often contrasted with the objective or quantitative aspect of experience. Quale is derived from the Latin word "qualis," meaning "of what sort." Quale is often used in discussions of consciousness, perception, and the philosophy of mind. The concept of quale is central to debates about whether or not consciousness can be reduced to physical processes in the brain, or if it is irreducibly subjective. Some philosophers have argued that there is an explanatory gap between the objective, physical description of the brain and the subjective experience of consciousness, and that this gap is bridged by the concept of quale.