if a tree falls in the woods and there is nobody there,does it make a sound?

Answer 1

What a clever question.... and of course the choice of topic too has to be Philosophy.

Did the tree fall....anyone saw it or felt it falling... the question of making any sound can wait till we resolve whether it fell at all or not!!

Answer 2

This is a favorite question of philosophy. Objectivist will say yes. Subjectivist will say no.

The problem is the statement is confused. Who was it that was able to declare that a tree actually fell in the woods? There is your subject. Without that subject, there will be some people who would find no problem in answering no to this question.

The question should be taken further. If there is something that doesn't manifest to you in any way, not even indirectly i.e. the wind manifests with the rustling of leaves, then does it exist? This question is actually tied up with those doubts of our senses.
What if there is no such thing as hearing, anywhere? Would there be such a thing as sound?

The question is a lot more complicated that people give it credit for.

If there is a God, did it just so happened that nobody can see him, no one can sense his presence, no one can hear him, and that there is no justice in the world, and the bad men are rewarded and the good suffer? This is the important follow-up to the tree question. People should be aware of the implications of how they answer it.

Answer 3

I have been asked this before very classic here is the answer I have come up with>yes the sound will varie. The tree falls and the Base of the trunk cracks most likely there is a sound if it falls on a hard surface it will make A very loud noise if it lands on a soft marshy surface the sound will be softer and not as loud. Kinda of a dumb question in my opinion if no human is close enough to hear the sound no human will hear it it will make a noise because any object hitting surface water dirt anything usually makes some kind of vibration or noise dude!.

Answer 4

This question is designed to reveal in many the error in reasoning cause by irrational equivocation.

"The answer to such questions depends entirely upon what is meant by certain key words. If "sound" means somethings that is audible, the there is no sound in the [woods] so long as there is no ear which hears it; but if "sound" means what it means to the physicist, namely a specific type of air vibrations, then there is a sound in the [woods] when the [tree "falls."]"

Answer 5

Yes when the tree falls it makes a sound. Do you think the tree gives a damn if you are there to hear it or not!

Answer 6

Hey! are you sick? Of course it still has a sound although nobody is around. Think of that falling tree..... in the wood of course it will make a bit loud sound.

Answer 7

No. The key word is sound. In order for an object make a sound it must have the capability of transmitting mechanical energy to a human ear. Otherwise it just falls, because there was nobody there to hear it. :-(

Answer 8

now Sami Sami.... of course not. Why would the tree worry about making noise if noone can hear it? Although you never know I've met one or two weird trees in my life... so I guess it depends on the tree.

Answer 9

how old is this question? Yes, it does. Sound is a real and measureable thing which results in air molecules being compressed and expanded in the form of waves. This will happen whether or not you're watching. Kinda sad this question is still rearing it's ugly head in 2007.

Answer 10

Yes there is sound only if the tree falls on you.

Come on now sami p.