howness
Howness refers to a theoretical concept within certain philosophical discussions, particularly those exploring the nature of consciousness and subjective experience. It is a term used to describe the qualitative or phenomenal aspect of consciousness, often contrasted with the "whatness" of an experience. The "whatness" might be considered the factual content or the functional role of a mental state, while the "howness" is what it feels like to be in that state. For example, the "whatness" of seeing the color red could be the specific wavelengths of light detected by the retina and processed by the brain. The "howness," however, is the subjective, ineffable experience of redness itself – the feeling of red.
This concept is closely tied to the philosophical problem of consciousness, often discussed in relation to