If a tree falls....

[The Way I Am]

Here's a really interesting debate, if a tree falls on a deserted island, where there are no animals or humans, would it still make a sound?

 

[Philosoft]

It depends on one's definition of "sound." It's reasonable to claim that it creates sound waves but in the absence of tympanic membranes and the associated neural wiring, it won't be heard.

According to some old philosopher, whose name escapes me, it would make a sound because it would be heard by God.

 

[The Way I Am]

I believe that when it comes to hierachy of importance, if a sound is not heard, it is never made at all.

I contend that no sound being made.

 

[Philosoft]

Fair enough.

 

[MEOMY]

If nobody and no animal is there, is there even an island??

oooo

I read that somewhere, can't take credit for that astounding reply...

 

[psychedelicist]

Sound is merely vibration of molecules interpreted by our ears. Having no ears to hear it with, there would still be the vibration, but no sound.

But wrap your minds around this little koan:
Imagine an unstoppable force (we will use a cannonball, which can never be stopped by anything). Now imagine an immoveable object (a brick wall which nothing could destroy). What would happen when the cannonball came into contact with the wall?

 

[The Way I Am]

start a new thread for that one, I have a few good responses for that.

But back to the subject, does anyone here think that a sound is being made?

 

[slayer-2004]

My answer is that it makes a sound , but nobody hears it , so its not important until you wake up and realize the tree crushed your home .

 

[Buzz Dixon]

Wanna hear my zen joke?


Of course you do, but ya gotta be familiar with zen philosophy to appreciate it.

If a cow falls over and there's no one around to hear it fall, does it make a sound?

Mu!

 

[markie]

Sound is merely vibration of molecules interpreted by our ears. Having no ears to hear it with, there would still be the vibration, but no sound.

But wrap your minds around this little koan:
Imagine an unstoppable force (we will use a cannonball, which can never be stopped by anything). Now imagine an immoveable object (a brick wall which nothing could destroy). What would happen when the cannonball came into contact with the wall?

If that's your definition of sound that would be a logical conclusion to make.

 

[Kasey]

Here's a really interesting debate, if a tree falls on a deserted island, where there are no animals or humans, would it still make a sound?

Yes. It would make a sound even though you wouldnt be able to hear it because you werent in the vicinity of the crash.

Evidence? Go outside and chop a tree to the ground - it makes noise. Just because your not there doesnt mean it still doesnt make a sound.

Its really not an interesting debate.

 

[Godzman]

of course it makes a sound, if the whole world was deaf but people talked wouldn't their still be sounds being made.

yes, the capability to make a sound is there, the capability to hear it is not

 

[IZ2ZION]

Sound waves still created by an event, in this case a falling tree, but if there is no one there to hear it then it won't create noise. The way that the waves are interpreted, as noise, is totally dependent on some sort of device that will "decode" these waves. So in a sense, no, it would not make noise if NOTHING was there to hear it.

Then again, this whole question is based on circular reasoning and never will truly be answered.

 

[Philosoft]

But wrap your minds around this little koan:
Imagine an unstoppable force (we will use a cannonball, which can never be stopped by anything). Now imagine an immoveable object (a brick wall which nothing could destroy). What would happen when the cannonball came into contact with the wall?

My friend the married bachelor says: Our ability to verbalize a proposition does not entail its logical possibility.

 

[CSMR]

It's meaningless to say it does or it doesn't. It is convenient to say it does in physical theories - a theory which says it does is likely to be simpler than one which says it doesn't.

 

[meebs]

Sound is merely vibration of molecules interpreted by our ears. Having no ears to hear it with, there would still be the vibration, but no sound.

But wrap your minds around this little koan:
Imagine an unstoppable force (we will use a cannonball, which can never be stopped by anything). Now imagine an immoveable object (a brick wall which nothing could destroy). What would happen when the cannonball came into contact with the wall?

AARGH!!

maybe the wall would move along with the ball?, like, what is the wall's foundations anyway, are they stable? so the wall maybe cant be destroyed, it could fall over, or move with the ball. or the ball cant be stopped but can it be slowed down......

like i said AARGH!!

 

[canehdianhotstuff]

what she said above... the wall would move with the momentum of the ball....

and yes it would make a sound just not heard.....

if a man says somehting and no woman is around is he still wrong...

 

[Ave Maria]

Yes, it would make a sound. It would just be that nobody or nothing would hear it.

 

[TrueQ]

Lol, Mu! I get it!

Anyway, I would say, if a tree falls on an island and no people, animals, or even other plants are around to here it (which may or may not be possible), then it would make a sound, but no one would care.

 

[DJ_Ghost]

Hmm, my wife one posed a similar question;-

"If a man speaks in his garrage and there is no woman around to hear him, is he still wrong?"

Ghost.