Quality

Across various philosophical traditions, the concept of “quality” is expressed through different words that emphasize distinct nuances, ranging from inherent properties to moral excellence and subjective experience.

Western Philosophy

Ancient Greek:
- Pooitēs (ποιότης): Coined by Plato and used extensively by Aristotle, this is the direct Greek equivalent for “quality” (or “such-and-such-ness”) as a category of being, describing an accident or attribute of a substance, such as “white” or “grammatical”.
- Aretē (ἀρετή): Often translated as “excellence” or “virtue,” this concept embodies a higher standard of “quality” in character or function, particularly in virtue ethics, referring to the full realization of potential or a moral excellence to be pursued as a virtue.
- Katà symbebekós (κατὰ συμβεβηκός): Used by Aristotle for non-essential or accidental qualities, distinguishing them from the substance’s essence.
Latin/Roman:
- Qualitas: A direct translation (calque) of the Greek poiotēs, introduced by Cicero, it refers to the nature, state, or condition of a thing.
Early Modern Philosophy:
- Primary vs. Secondary Qualities: Philosophers like John Locke introduced these terms to distinguish between qualities intrinsic to an object (e.g., size, figure, motion) and those dependent on subjective perception (e.g., color, taste, sound).
Contemporary Philosophy (Philosophy of Mind):
- Qualia (singular: quale): This term refers to the subjective, qualitative properties of experiences (e.g., “what it feels like” to see red or feel pain).
Modern Metaphysics:
- “Quality” (in Pirsig’s Metaphysics of Quality): Robert Pirsig used “Quality” as a fundamental, undefinable force in the universe, a pre-subject/object reality that drives evolution and value, sometimes equated with the Eastern concept of Tao. [1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

Eastern Philosophy

Indian Philosophy:
- Guṇa (गुण): In various Indian philosophical systems, guṇa is a key term that refers to the “qualities,” “properties,” or “modes” of substance or existence. For example, in Samkhya philosophy, the three guṇas (Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas) are the fundamental operational qualities of primordial matter.
Chinese Philosophy:
- Qi (氣): While a complex term, qi (often translated as “vital energy” or “material force”) relates to the fundamental qualities or patterns of energy and matter that make up the cosmos, human body, and state, emphasizing a relational and dynamic view of properties rather than static attributes.
- Dao (道): The “Way” or “Path,” the ultimate principle from which all things derive their nature and qualities, functioning in some contexts similarly to a universal source of “quality” or principle of order. [10, 11, 12, 13, 14]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1] https://iep.utm.edu/qualia/

[2] https://philosophynow.org/issues/122/Robert_Pirsig_and_His_Metaphysics_of_Quality

[3] https://www.rocketalumnisolutions.com/news/excellent-synonyms

[4] https://www.mheducation.com/highered/blog/2024/06/the-history-and-philosophy-of-leading-quality.html

[5] wikipedia/en/Quality_(philosophy)

[6] https://www.encyclopedia.com/quality

[7] https://rotel.pressbooks.pub/introphilosophy/back-matter/glossary-of-terms/

[8] wikipedia/en/Pirsig%27s_Metaphysics_of_Quality

[9] youtube/v=fExK53IW174

[10] https://fiveable.me/intro-philosophy/unit-3

[11] https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1988&context=gc_pubs

[12] https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095912363

[13] https://www.willbuckingham.com/kanada/

[14] wikipedia/en/Gu%E1%B9%87a

The main types of qualities in philosophy are primary and secondary qualities, a distinction most clearly articulated by John Locke. Primary qualities are objective, mind-independent properties like shape, size, and motion, while secondary qualities are mind-dependent sensations such as color, taste, and sound. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Primary qualities

Definition: Properties that objects possess in reality, independent of an observer.
Characteristics: They can be described mathematically and are considered genuine properties of things.
Examples:

• Shape

• Solidity

• Extension

• Figure

• Motion or rest

• Number [1, 2, 4, 6]

Secondary qualities

Definition: Properties that are not in objects themselves but exist only in the mind as a result of the object’s primary qualities interacting with our senses.
Characteristics: They are the powers of objects to produce specific sensations in us.
Examples:

• Color

• Taste

• Smell

• Sound

• Heat [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7]