Poll: about the question reagarding a tree falling in a forest and if there was no one there to hear it, did?

Question

it make a sound?

Here's my question regarding many answers to this question.

Why do people assume only humans may or may not be there to hear it? What about animals? They hear too? And wouldn't the shock waves of the tree falling still reverberate through the forest? Can't the other trees FEEL the poor tree falling? When referencing "one" as in "no one" why does that automatically mean "Human" to a lot of people. Would not "one" refer to a being or living entitity?

Answer 1

This question is just to do with the ambiguous meaning of the word 'sound'.  It can refer either to the vibrations which the tree does make, or to the sensation produced when those vibrations encounter an ear.  In the latter case the tree wouldn't technically make a sound even if someone were there to hear it, the observer's ears would make the sound.

Answer 2

The tree heard itself falling, that's all that matters.

Answer 3

Everyone misses the point, which IS NOT about sound or sound waves being heard or not heard, or about whether sound is different from noise. Those are excuses of metaphysicians who won't face the real question, which is:

Does existence exist independent of consciousness?

When seen in this light, it does not matter if you use "sound" or "noise"; it matters whether you think things happen whether or not a consciousness is there to perceive that it happens.

The belief that reality requires a consciousness is gaining in prevalence. It has been a staple of some eastern philosophies for thousands of years.

But it is fallacious logic called the Primacy of Consciousness. (The Primacy of Perception is also a fallacy. ["...perception [as] the causal product of atomic sensations." ] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Mer... )

The Primacy of Existence states that existence exists. Period. It does not require a consciousness having perception of a "thing" to make that "thing" a reality. In this case the "thing" is whether or not a "noise or a sound is generated." If we grant that it is generated, then it does not matter which definition of "that which was generated" you choose; some choose "sound," some choose "noise." But all of those who believe the fallacy that a consciousness must be there yet agree that there is a generation of sound waves, AND THEY AGREE IT DOES NOT TAKE A CONSCIOUSNESS to make the sound waves a reality--unless they are hard core in their belief that the tree would not even fall if no one was there to SEE it.

That is where the end result of the Primacy of Consciousness takes logic. I have seen questions in this forum that ask such things as, "When I did, will existence cease to exist?"

If the answer was yes, then it would require consciousness to give reality to "reality."

Answer 4

I always wonder why the poor tree fell in the first place.

Then I think about all the bugs in the forest. And those gross banana slugs that are always there on the ground....waiting for some half blind camper (me) to step on them.   Surely they would hear the tree just before it squashed them.

Answer 5

I like cherries.

Actually, I thought the question was supposed to be "If a tree falls in the forest, does the pope wear a funny hat?".

Answer 6

If I see a log in the forest I think "THAT must've been a helluva crash! I hope no bunny was hurt!" and imagine what it sounded like as it creaked and fell, snapping off branches and twigs. So perhaps it can be heard or acknowledged retrospectively. Or even futuristically if you're a developer or  logger standing in a pristine virgin forest - falling trees will be heard!

Meanwhile, over at the stream, beavers hear trees fall often.

Answer 7

yeah people are really self centered and hardly ever think such odd questions all the way through. when they say no one though i always think that mean that there is nothing there other than the tree.

Answer 8

as I see it ....the term "ONE" means all living entities...but, people  ["the human race"] is self centered, I may be human, but I do try to keep in mind the idea, that "I" am not the only living thing on this rock we call Earth

Answer 9

yes, you have discover the metaphysical interpretation. "one" means anything that can feel, sense, or perceive the sound. by reason, it makes a sound, but it can never be proven. though like chasing the end of rainbow, reason could be wrong, meaningless, or not applicable.

after all, a theory is first verified to prove its validity then used for prediction. if the theory is not valid or unproven because it can't be verified, theory is not used.

Answer 10

A tree fell in the forest and crushed the roof of my family's cabin. :(

At least no one was around, but it still sucks.

Answer 11

I think you have missed the point of the question, but if it helps from now on you can ask it like this.

"If a tree falls in the forest and no organism with the body parts capable of capturing and interpreting sound waves was around, would it make a sound?

Answer 12

Well, i'll answer this one like i answered the question about the light in the desert. Sound is just vibrations absorbed by ears and interpreted by minds (human or otherwise). The mind converts the vibration into sounds so that we can recognize and understand better. It's actually quite amazing when you think about it. We can tell the difference between a tree falling and a guitar being plucked because our minds take the frequency of the vibrations and converts them to something we can better understand. Therefore, if there aren't any ears or minds to accept and understand the vibrations, no; it does not make a sound.