Can you listen to silence?

Question

A bunch of my friends have been having an argument lately about whether or not you can listen to silence. Some say that you can listen to the absence of sound and some say you cant because you need noise to listen. I wanted to get some of your opinons. Please let me know what you think

Answer 1

Silence is audible and therefore it can be heard and listened to. In this age, we're accustomed to so many sounds in the background: ie. tv, music, cars passing, airplanes flying over, the air conditioning hum, even the gentle noise of the fan on the computer. But if all of that is taken away, the silence can still be heard.

Answer 2

John Cage wrote pieces for orchestra that consisted of long periods of not playing, but still called for an orchestra. Meditation is normally thought of as cutting oneself off from the world, therefore simply listening is something else, but having a blind wife, I have learned that there are dozens of sounds out in the world and when one is moving or turns the head slowly, the "silence" contains all kinds of clues as to where walls and doors can be found. It is easiest to practice when it is mostly quiet, like late at night. When a person is put in an anechonic room (no echos) that is sound proofed also, it doesn't take long for the brain to hear sounds of the body, etc.

Answer 3

ok i know this sounds weird but you are always listening to a sound because silence is one if you keep quiet long enough you hear like a high pitched noise so yes i think you can listen to silence

Answer 4

I am a hunter, up North.
I hunt alone sometimes, getting food for relatives and family. when you are alone out there, on land
everything is completly silence, when you stop the skidoo, during winter, you could listen for something, but silence, if you are inside an igloo,
you could say, listen to silence, you could do that.
or even in tent, when you just waking up, just listen to outside, "No Wind" See
I am "Wisdom Hunter"

Answer 5

You can listen and feel in silence only. You can't understand the noise. you can listen the voice of your own in case of silence. Be experimental then share your experience.

Answer 6

Ok I'm one of this guy's friends and here is my arguement. If listening is the act of hearing a sound, how would that be possible if there is no sound to be heard? Can you swim without water? Can you breathe without air? By definition there must be something to listen to or its not lisetening!

Answer 7

all and sundry pays attention silence yet no longer all could be silent. privateness could be Silent, yet no longer all Silence must be in privateness. Silence is relative so is state of privateness, seclusion could be privateness however the ideas isn't in silence. a individual could be in silence and keep his privateness amidst noise, in stillness and safeguard tranquil state at peace in lively silence.

Answer 8

. . . . . silence can be very loud, deafening than elephantine din!! It is just akin to talking, talking, talking but saying nothing!!
Ever hear of Edward Lorenz & chaos theory or butterfly effect!!

All body lanuage; gestures, facial expressions, costume, the way one walks, treatment of time and space are all instances of the sounds of silence.
See Edward and Mildred Hall in
Language Awareness: Essays for College Writers
Edition: 3rd
Author(s): Eschholz, Paul; Rosa, Alfred; Clark, Virginia.

Answer 9

"The Sounds of Silence" Simon and Garfunkel circa 1966

Answer 10

this question is close to the ancient question theologians have been trying to answer - how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

my answer is if it exist you can listen to it, or more, you know of its existence and you are aware. you feel it.
and lets just leave it at that.