2006-08-14 15:43:57 · 25 answers · asked by Alan 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I had wonder this myself once, so I went out to the forest and found a fallen tree. I asked the tree "Did you make a sound when you fell Mr. tree?" The tree did not respond, however his brother tree did. He told me "That tree is dead, he can not answer you. I can how ever, and yes he made a very loud sound." He went on to ask me "Why do you ask such a question? Can you not hear? Can you not feel?" In response I said "In the human world the question 'If a tree falls and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?' has puzzled many philosophers for many years."
The Tree looked very puzzled by this and then asked "Do they commune with the earth, the trees and animals? Why do they not just come and ask, as you have done?" I thought for a moment and responded "The human world has become blinded and most humans disregard what their ancestors have valued so dearly."
The tree was silent for a short while then and then thanked me for asking the question I did.
So there you have it. Yes a tree that falls when no human is around, still makes a sound.
2006-08-14 16:31:31 · answer #1 · answered by oldmanscrooge 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but nobody hears it. Okay maybe just he animals but nobody else. I know you're going to say well if nobody is there how do you know it makes a sound? Simple. If a tree falls and someone is around it makes a sound and is heard. Since a tree does not have logical thinking it cannot choose whether it makes a sound or not it just does. Therefore it must make a sound even though nobody is around to hear it.
2006-08-14 16:02:40 · answer #2 · answered by ѕомєопєѕ▪ ваву ♥ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the sun comes up in the morning and your eyes are closed, is it still light out?
Of course the tree makes a noise when it falls.
2006-08-14 16:09:50 · answer #3 · answered by old lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. The fact is that a falling tree makes a sound - whether or not someone hears it is irrelevant.
2006-08-14 15:51:22 · answer #4 · answered by strawberrywrite 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Tree - " Ouch!! Damn that hurt!" Ha HA Nah, seriously the answer is no. If we are not there and we can't assume the animals are there to hear a sound. Most insects I know don't have ears so they can't hear sounds. They feel the movement of air. So I would say no.
2006-08-14 16:00:31 · answer #5 · answered by benhanchett2000 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, I bet it does. It is a very recalled question. It is similar to asking if anything existed if nobody was able to register it, or, at least, take notice. Sound produces a modification in particle's vibration, so it did exist as it was able to change something substancial.
2006-08-14 15:57:48 · answer #6 · answered by Calíope!* 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi, Of course it would, I've always wondered if trees ever ask the same question about people.
2006-08-14 15:50:17 · answer #7 · answered by Merrilly C 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well alan, as a tree, I can definitively answer, yes.
And when no one's around, they squeal like pigs all the way down.
2006-08-14 16:04:39 · answer #8 · answered by Me-as-a-Tree 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It creates sound waves, but sound waves only have meaning if they interact with a brain connected to an ear which can interpret them.
2006-08-14 15:50:57 · answer #9 · answered by CAPTREE 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. There's just no one around to hear it. If you talk to a deaf man, are you still talking? Yes. He just can't hear you.
2006-08-14 15:52:46 · answer #10 · answered by Mercedes 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋