Knowledge

Philippines
September 12, 2010 5:58pm CST
Imagine a tree in a forest. If that tree falls down and no person is present there, does it make a sound?
4 responses
goldeneagle
@goldeneagle (6743)
• United States
13 Sep 10
To scientifically answer your question, Anytime a solid piece of matter (the falling tree) forcefully contacts another piece of solid matter (the ground), it will make a noise...
ubermensch
@ubermensch (136)
• Philippines
13 Sep 10
Hi...you are right in the perspective of science. Try to consider who perceives the sound. It is we who perceives them. Without us there could be no sound. May I know your position regarding to this?
goldeneagle
@goldeneagle (6743)
• United States
13 Sep 10
Well I am sure that every animal within a reasonable distance would hear it.
urbandekay
@urbandekay (18278)
•
15 Sep 10
"Anytime a solid piece of matter (the falling tree) forcefully contacts another piece of solid matter (the ground), it will make a noise" Actually, that is incorrect. Matter colliding makes only vibrations in the air. Without an ear and that ear connected to a brain, there is no sound! all the best urban
dogsnme
@dogsnme (1264)
• United States
13 Sep 10
I would think the answer is yes. But, could it be possible that it doesn't really make a sound. When a tree falls to the ground it creates what we call sound waves which we detect with our ears. But is it possible that those waves are really silent and the effect they have on our ear drums is only really translated by our brains as sound. Does that make sense? In other words, sound doesn't come from the tree striking the ground but rather it is the explanation or translation, by the brain, of the "sound" waves striking our ear drums. If that were the case then I guess you could say that if there were no humans or animals present then the tree falling to the ground would make no sound. Confused?? I think I am, now. LOL
ubermensch
@ubermensch (136)
• Philippines
13 Sep 10
I think if we only relied on science, there could be no doubt that there is a sound and you are probably right. Moreover, there is another circumstance that you mention concerning that there will be no sound when no is there to hear it. The point in the second argument is that in order for a sound to be a sound there must be someone to perceive it. To be is to be perceived. A sound cannot be a sound unless it is perceived by someone. In this case, the sound exists because there is someone who perceives it. So, will you consider that a sound is dependent on someone? Can it exist on its own? It is not only in sound but how about matter? Can a tree exist without the person who sees it?
urbandekay
@urbandekay (18278)
•
15 Sep 10
If a man is in a forest and there are no women about, is he still wrong? all the best urban
Lucas Carvalho
@lucas5 (455)
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
15 Sep 10
I used to be hour thinking on those questions, I graduated myself on Philosophy 3 years ago, sometimes I come to the internet to search for those "answers", I loved you put it here, and like the way people try to explain his point of view. the sound is just the waves that our earn send to our brain as what we hear, without a ear, it will bot have sound, but that sound waves will be there.
urbandekay
@urbandekay (18278)
•
15 Sep 10
They aren't sound waves, they are waves of air pressure. No ear and brain, no sound all the best urban