Final answer:
Studying qualia empirically is problematic because qualia are subjective experiences that cannot be measured like physical objects, making them elusive to empirical research methods that rely on observation and measurement. Moreover, empiricism has limitations in non-physical realms, including qualia, values, and morality, often leading to challenges in fully understanding and explaining phenomena related to human experience.
Step-by-step explanation:
The empirical study of qualia is challenging because qualia, by nature, are subjective experiences and are not accessible through the senses in the way that physical objects are. This subjective quality makes it difficult for researchers to objectively measure and study them. In the world of empiricism, knowledge tends to be grounded in what can be observed and measured. Since qualia do not have a physical presence, they elude traditional empirical methods which rely on observation and experimentation. For instance, the feelings of pain or the redness of an apple are subjective and vary from person to person, which is inherently problematic for empirical verification.
Moreover, empirical methods are limited when it comes to understanding non-physical phenomena. In the case of materialism, our knowledge is restricted to what is empirically verifiable, which excludes the spiritual or non-physical realm. As a result, the inquiry into qualia bumps up against the boundaries of how science can investigate and validate existence.
The limitations of empirical study reach beyond qualia into areas such as moral values, logic, and mathematics where sensory experience does not provide a complete foundation for knowledge. This is evident in areas where human experience or action cannot be explained completely by sensory data, such as the apparent freedom of our will against neurological determinism or the problem of understanding other minds and the mind-body interaction. The challenge of studying phenomena that are deeply rooted in human experience and perception demonstrates the broader struggle with employing an empirical approach in all realms of knowledge.