It all depends upon how you define the word "sound". If you define it as the perception by the ear of certain frequency vibratory disturbances, then the answer is "no". This implies that if there is someone in the forest with average hearing who is in the near vicinity of the falling tree, he or she will claim that it made a sound, whereas to another person witnessing the event from miles away, he or she will claim it made no sound at all, and both would be correct in their answers. To avoid this paradox, scientists define sound as the vibratory disturbance in the medium itself..with or without a person present, and from this perspective and definition, the answer to your question is "yes".
Posts: 625 | Location: Boston | Registered: 06-13-02
a Zen master would probably take exception to clever proof of this koan by this defin-ition.
"koan" online Webster: A puzzling, often paradoxical statement or story, used in Zen Buddhism as an aid to meditation and a means of gaining spiritual awakening. . Chin. public + matter
Perhaps all vibrations, seen and unseen, heard or unheard are of moment to the "reality" of all there is in a world composed of vibrations. Mehbe. Mehbe not.
I'm sure many animals hear the sound. Does all depend only on mankind's hubris?
[This message was edited by stanbee on 06-12-03 at 12:29 AM.]
Posts: 704 | Location: San Francisco, Ca.. | Registered: 06-04-02
Sound, to me, is the emission of sound waves produced by vibrations upon impact or other movement. Thus, if a tree falls in the woods and impacts against other trees and/or the ground, or it's roots tear from the ground, or other motion, it would produce sound waves and make a sound. Whether someone hears it or not is irrelevant.
Posts: 3065 | Location: A place with palm trees and sunshine! | Registered: 03-17-03
This is the classic science vs philosophy question. From a scientific standpoint certainly sound waves are transmitted and a sound is made, from a philosophical standpoint is if no one is around to hear it then why would it matter as their is no sentient life to decipher what the sound waves mean nor would even care.
I wouldn't say that it is a science vs. philosophy question. It is really just a philosophy question. The philosophy question is really 'is sound a property of the object making the sound, or the person hearing the sound?' Different philosophers would have different responses. The science gives us equations that we can use to find the effect from the cause. Whether sound is in the tree falling or the person hearing is irrelevant to the equations. It reminds me a lot of the philosophy surrounding quantum mechanics. The equations don't care which philosophical explanation you choose (there are several), they give the same result.
