Meelte

Meelte is a term used in Estonian-language discussion to refer to the ensemble of internal perceptual faculties that contribute to experience, including sensory input, affect, attention, and interpretation. It is not a standard scientific term but appears in linguistic, cultural, and philosophical contexts to discuss how perception and feeling interact.

Origin and usage: The word is derived from meele or meelt in Estonian, meaning mind, sense, or feeling. In some texts, meelte is used to denote the subjective side of perception—the way sensations are felt, evaluated, and remembered. It can be used in both everyday speech and scholarly writing to distinguish raw sensory data from the "felt" experience it generates.

Relation to science and philosophy: In cognitive science and phenomenology, the concept of a separate meelte is not normative; rather, scholars discuss perception, affect, and cognition as integrated processes. When meelte is invoked, it generally refers to the experiential component—the immediacy of feeling, mood, and attentional focus that accompany perception.

Cultural notes: In Estonian literature and spiritual discourse, meelte may appear in discussions of holistic perception, emotional intelligence, or the unity of mind and body. It is typically treated as a soft term that helps articulate subjective experience without committing to a strict, measurable definition.

See also: perception, sensation, cognition, phenomenology, Estonian language.