2006-11-18 01:07:28 · 12 answers · asked by Derek M 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
A sound, or "noise", does not exist unless it is actually a sound or noise. And to be a sound or noise means that it is heard, for lack of a better way of putting it. If a sound were the phenomena/physical conditions involved when a tree, for example, falls in a forest, such as the appearance of sound waves, then we should not be able to hear sounds in dreams. If a tree fell in a forest, and no one, nothing (including the tree) heard anything at all then no noise was actually made, because no noise exists.
A noise is something that is heard, and something that is heard but is never heard does not exist.
The conditions for the existence of a noise do not just merely involve sound waves, but an actual receptor of those sound waves (e.g., ears). If a receptor of a sound wave (ears) were not a necessary condition for the existence of a noise, then we would be able to make a deaf man hear a noise simply by providing the other conditions (e.g., the sound wave).
If the physical conditions (e.g., sound waves) were what a noise really was, then, again, how would we hear anything in dreams?
Without something to hear a sound wave, a sound wave is just an objective phenomena that makes no sound. For sound, for a noise, for music or a handclap or any other sound to actually exist, it must be heard, because the phenomenal existence of any sound is fundamentally the sound itself, not the conditions that gave rise to that sound.
A tree that falls in the forest gives rise to certain conditions, such as a sound wave, that were it conjoined with other conditions, such as ears, would give rise to the existence of a sound. But neither ear, nor sound waves, are independently sufficient to give rise to sound itself . . . the two must be conjoined.
2006-11-18 02:06:40 · answer #1 · answered by Nitrin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would imagine it would. Just because there is no one there to hear it fall doesn't mean something so large wouldn't make a noise. Humans may not have heard it fall, but the animals that live in the forrest could hear and possibly see it fall.
What do you think? If a tree fell in a forrest and there was no one there, do you think it made a noise?
2006-11-18 03:03:50 · answer #2 · answered by Lyndee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a tree fell in a forest, and there was know one there, it would definitely make sound but no one hears it. But other living things will hear the falling sound.
2006-11-18 01:13:07 · answer #3 · answered by naari 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A sound is something your brain interprets from information gathered through your ears. If something with ears, picks up the information of the fall of the tree, then a sound will be heard. But if there are no ears about to hear, the vibrations of the falling tree will broadcast out, and there will be no ear to pick up the vibes, and no brain to interpret it as sound.
Noise is in the ear of the hearer, so to speak.
2006-11-18 01:26:07 · answer #4 · answered by samarz 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don H and others confuse sound and listening to. Sound is only the vibration. listening to the processing of that sound by potential of a expertise able to theory. We believe that sound exists whilst quickly as we're not there to take heed to it through fact we develope merchandise permanence between the a while of 9 and 12 months previous. After that, we understand that issues we opt for additionally take place as quickly as we at the instant are not around. scientific outcomes does no longer be sensible if depended on human perceivers in some style of unnatural way. Many think of quantum mechanics is desperate by potential of a perceiver. It does no longer. It is desperate by potential of interaction with complicated systems, whether those systems are human brains or no longer.
2016-12-10 11:13:43 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
aha, this is a trick question, no tree ever falls over when no one is about, they dont like to waste the wonderful noise it produces, if you go into a forrest and there is a tree laying down, dont worry, it will soon get back up, once the drink has worn off. lol
2006-11-18 01:10:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a sound by definition is something that is heard, and no-one is around to hear the tree fall, then no, it does not make a sound. It just causes movements in the air around it.
2006-11-18 01:24:40 · answer #7 · answered by Elle 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No tree would not make noise
2006-11-18 03:57:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As much noise as one hand clapping.
2006-11-18 04:46:52 · answer #9 · answered by hq3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ask the ground it landed on
2006-11-18 05:30:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋