It's the age old question, if a tree falls and there's no one around to hear it does it really make a noise?

Answer 1

I understand the argument the question makes. Do all the natural things that occur to create noise carry any weight if nothing is there to perceive it? In essence, can it be silent by default?

However, I have to say this is postmodern nonsense. Its an interesting discussion, but it means nothing and contributes nothing to philosophy as a whole. As an example, it is meant to illustrate the attitude of postmodern theory, but in the context of a real question it comes out as silly.

Most people are saying "yes!" and "of course" and they are right. While society embraces some of the values implied in your question, such as individual acutalization and innate personal values, the extremes of postmodernism will never overcome its more scientific opponents. And how can it? Postmodernism argues things like "If a cat is a cat, is it really a cat if I think it is a dog? Or is it a dog because my perception of it is thus." Its all fun and cute, but not as deep as it thinks it is after a while.

Answer 2

The real question is, is there even a tree to fall.

This is more easily understandable if one considers the actual scale of the components of an atom. If one takes into account the fact that the neutrons, protons and electrons of an atom actually have huge spaces between them it becomes clear that the atoms that make up seemingly solid objects are made up of 99+ percent empty space.

This alone does not seem too important till you add the idea that the atoms that make up seemingly solid objects are more of a loose conglomeration that share a similar attraction but never really touch each other.

At first glance this does not really seem relevant, but closer analysis reveals that this adds a tremendous amount of empty space to solid objects that are already made up of atoms that are 99 percent space. When so-called solid objects are seen in this light it becomes apparent that they can in no way be the seemingly solid objects they appear to be.

We ourselves are not exceptions to this phenomenon.

These seemingly solid objects are more like ghostly images that we interpret as solid objects based on our perceptual conclusions.

From this we must conclude that Perception is some sort of a trick that helps us to take these ghostly images and turn them into a world we can associate and interact with. This clever device seems to be a creation of our intellect that enables us to interact with each other in what appears to be a three dimensional reality.

I hope that helps to answered your question.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 3

Since a falling tree is capable of making enough noise to be heard for miles, how do you suppose the tree knows that no one is there?????

Answer 4

Of course not. And if you leave the light on in the kitchen, but nobody is home, it doesn't use any electricity! LOLOL!! Silly question. If the tree falls, and there is no atmosphere to carry the sound, there will be no noise, but there happens to be atomosphere on our planet, so of course there will be noise.

Answer 5

Thequestion is ... make a sound? The question asks if the sound exists without an observer. The tree will cause vibrations in the air (noise)but is this a 'sound' if no one hears it?

Answer 6

Thinking logically, of course there is, put a tape recorder in a forest and you will be able to prove it when a tree falls over.

Although on a metaphoric level, its a different story.

Answer 7

How do you know the tree fell in the first place, maybe it was just there, we don't see the tree fall we all just assumed it did, maybe it got tired and just laid down.

Answer 8

If there is no one there to hear it, how do we know it really fell if we did not see it fall.

Answer 9

it does make a noise, if anyone is around to hear it or not!

Answer 10

Of course it does. The air molecules and the rest are still moving; we just aren't there to hear them.