Poll: If a Tree falls in a forest...

[Kukakkau]

Yes, but you can't prove it does

 

[Rivana]

Man you're deep, I like that. I agree completely, most of what "exists" is only through human perception, if we do not perceive it, we assume it does not exist, until it is proven that it does.

It is because something exists, that we can prove that it does. To say that something cannot exist until it is recognised is an impossibility, and exceedingly conceited. Even then, just because something can be proven to the satisfaction of humans, there's still every chance that it doesn't exist at all. For one thing, the whole manner in which science and our understanding of the universe progresses is based on the idea that we can't have all the answers.

Besides, it's not as if the perception ability of humans is particularly reliable. If an elephant stampedes through the living room of a schizophrenic, does it spill the neighbour's tea?

Hmm, interesting. I think that general perception is that ntil humans have proved it exists, they do not recognize it. E.G aliens etc etc.

As for your question, I'd say "no", but I'm probably wrong. I gotta log off now, damn, please keep posting your opinions, and message me if you like. I'll check back later

I don't know that I'd go so far as to say general perception. Take for example god, many people recognize god but I have yet to see any argument that clearly proves god exists or doesn't exist. I also recognize aliens even if they have never been proven to exist.

 

[The DSM]

The REAl question is if a tree falls in a forest and no-ones there to hear it do the other trees laugh?

 

[Amethyst Wind]

Obviously it makes a sound. There is no spiritual, religious, wishy washy arguement that can combat the fact that it makes a sound

This.

I believe I had a blog post on this once.
Let me find it.
Here it is;

Yes. Whether or not there is a human around, vibrations are still made. Critters, ants, buts, animals, birds, might all still be around to hear and feel the tree falling.

Stop trying to sound intelligent with your philosophical bullshit that's had the same answer for years. People keep trying to look smart by spouting these outdated questions that supposedly have multiple answers when it really doesn't. They ask these things to try and distract people from their hidden idiocy

what they said

Why exactly do you think that "If noone was around" wouldn't include non-humans? That's limiting your own mindset since most animals are even more capable than humans at hearing.

As to the original question - No, if there was nothing around that possess an auditory sense then the tree would not make a sound. It would make vibrations in the air. Sound is simply what the brain translates said vibrations into into. The vibrations are the medium but not the sound. A deaf person doesn't hear not because there are no vibrations, but because their brain does not translate them into anything, the vibrations are still there.

Air vibrations are objective, sound is subjective.

 

[Crimsane]

More importantly, why does anyone care if a tree in the middle of nowhere falls over?

Regardless, this question is more semantics than anything. It's basically an exercise in seeing how different people define "sound".

 

[Dessembrae]

now I felt like being a bit of a jerk so here you go, the definitions of sound:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sound?r=75

notice that there are 25 definitions of sound, of these my favorite is #12
"Archaic. a report or rumor; news; tidings."

now using that definition it does indeed not make a sound since it does not speak any news when it falls. But it does not give you any news when it falls if you stand right next to it either.(neither does a gun I might point out!)

a more modern meaning #6: "a distinctive, characteristic, or recognizable musical style, as from a particular performer, orchestra, or type of arrangement: the big-band sound."

again it does not make a sound, whether you are there or not.

I could go on, but i think (hope) I have made my point concerning the illogic of using semantics as an argument, since all of these "different" sounds are always vibrations transmitted through a medium.

 

[Iron Mal]

As many have said before, if a tree falls in a forest then it will still make sound waves and vibrations meaning that, yes, it does make a sound (the only difference is that no-one heard it).

If you were to leave a microphone or dictaphone at the site of the tree and leave the area (so no-one is around to hear it) you would still hear the crashing noise of the tree reccorded on the device.

Just because we can't percieve something doesn't mean it doesn't exsist, otherwise, by the same method of thinking this would mean that since no-one was around to see the tree fall, the tree didn't even exsist at that point in time.

 

[Crimsane]

From a scientific standpoint, essentially, the answer is no. As long as no one is around to hear it and convert these vibrations into an audible sound, these vibrations remain just that - vibrations.

The more common sense answer is that "of course it does, just because no one's there to hear it, doesn't mean it doesn't happen!"

Of course, in order for any of us to even be aware that a tree has fallen at all, someone would've had to witness it in the first place. Unless they were deaf or very far away, it would indeed have made a sound.

 

[Abedeus]

Yes. It makes a SOUND.

It doesn't make NOISE, because... well, nobody's there.

If a sheep on a planet far far away dies of loneliness (and rabies), does anyone give a damn?

 

[Baneat]

Obviously it makes a sound. There is no spiritual, religious, wishy washy arguement that can combat the fact that it makes a sound

A sound is only a sound if it has a reciever. zing.

 

[GloatingSwine]

Yes. Humans are not priveleged observers of sound. There will always be at least one, if not hundreds, of sets of ears in forests, lots and lots of things live there.

 

[sky14kemea]

well yeah XD

i know what you mean, me and my friend always have a little fight over this, luckily we're both not serious

but i think it does

 

[xChevelle24]

To be brutally honest:

What kind of moron would argue that if you can't hear it, that means it doesn't make the sound?

Common sense at its finest!

 

[Rezfon]

if a tree falls and makes no sound, what's going to happen to the potential energy? so my answer is yes

 

[The_Commander_of_Offworld]

Really though, how can it even be argued that it doesn't make a sound? The laws of physics are not suspended because there is no one to hear it.

 

[Neonbob]

Why is this still a question? If sound is caused by vibrations, and a tree falling and hitting the ground obviously causes vibrations, then it cannot be doubted that it makes a sound.

 

[fletch_talon]

Yes. It makes a SOUND.

It doesn't make NOISE, because... well, nobody's there.

If a sheep on a planet far far away dies of loneliness (and rabies), does anyone give a damn?

Nice...

Now I feel bad for the sheep.

 

[Iskenator67]

Chuck Norris hears it. Chuck Norris hears everything.

 

[rocketseed]

lit me ask it this way why would it not make a sound

 

[Oopsie]

Really though, how can it even be argued that it doesn't make a sound? The laws of physics are not suspended because there is no one to hear it.

Oh boy. The day you read something about Quantum Physics your head is going to explode.