"Quality" is a word used quite often. Everyone seems to know what it is. However, it is more difficult to think of a quality definition. What is the definition of quality?
Although we may use the word "quality" as if it is objective, the reality is that quality is not objective. There is no way to measure or assess it in an objective manner. We could judge something to be high in quality if a significant number of people agree. However, this merely equates quality with consensus. If a person strongly disagrees with the majority, is it still reasonable to call this judgment a judgment reflecting quality? Yes, it is if we view quality as subjective.
One good reason to conceptualize quality as subjective is that it seems to be influenced by our values. Differences in judged quality may reflect differences in values. For example, differences in judgments of the quality of a book may reflect differences in values. One person may judge a book to be high in quality because the writing is clear and vivid. Another person may judge the same books as low in quality because it seems to lack originality and depth. Thus, the first person mentioned may highly value clarity and vividness. The second person mentioned may highly value originality and depth.
Thus, in my view, the following is the best definition of quality:
Quality is a subjective judgment that reflects congruence between our values and what we have experienced.