If a tree falls in the forest and no one's around to hear it, is it still a sound?

Question

I say yes, it is a sound. There are sound waves!

What do you think?

Answer 1

I say yes,if it makes a sound when someone is there, It's still going to make a sound when it falls ,there are sound waves with anything that has a sound so you may not hear it,but it still has got to make a sound.
, Just because you're not there doesn't mean an animal in the forest wouldn't hear it .

Answer 2

Yes....Am I the only sane person here? I'd love to be a Zen master...It doesn't take too much to confuse people...I would tell them that they were wrong even if their "yes" did not sound sincere.

Addition:

Here is what I would answer.

YES: It still is a sound, your question was a sound when you asked it, and when I repeat the same question out aloud, it is also a sound.

Or a "correct" answer that is no:

NO: Because it was a sound, but NOW it is not making any sounds. So currently it "is" silent. Therefore, whether it did or did not make a sound in the past is irrelevant.

Therfore, Spsipath would be "correct." In fact much more eloquent and direct than my easy-to-understand answers.

Also, however, take note of how your question can be answered without even mentioning a tree or a forest. The first statement can be seen as being irrelevant to the real question.

Here is another example, that was also on the Simpsons:

What is the sound of a one handed clap.

Note also, that there is no question mark. The person just made a statement that a one handed clap make a sound that sounds like the word "what." So an acceptable "answer" would be: "Ok, ill take your word for it."

In response to xxpat1, here is my own koan:

If you see and hear a tree fall in the forest, who made the sound?

Answer 3

Simple physics. Yes it does make a sound - because energy cannot be created or destroyed - it can only be transformed from one form to another. As the tree hits the ground, the energy is turned into sound - just like the bang when two cars collide. Pax - C

Answer 4

No. Yes it makes sound waves, but that's not a sound! If no one's around to hear the waves, then it can't be a sound. And to all you who said that bugs and animals will hear it.. then that means that someone's around to hear! You just butchered the whole point!

Answer 5

The way you have worded the question, the answer is no.
This sentence simplified basically says "If a tree falls, is it a sound?"

A tree is not a sound.

Answer 6

yes, sound is only sound when it vibrates living eardrums attached to a brain
but:
if the tree is in a forest, won't the other trees hear?
what about the crickets, and the toads?

if no one hears it, then there is no tree falling

Answer 7

It becomes 'sound' if it is perceived or heard. If the sound of the tree falling has been taped and the tape is played and someone gets to hear the sound, then there is affirmation that the sound had been made.

Answer 8

True - The weight of a tree will undoubtedly cause an vibration, therefore creating a sound.

Answer 9

Yes, I agree with you, when the tree falls, the falling motion creates vibration and vibration creates sound, noise.

Answer 10

It is a sound frequency not detectable by human hearing, so yes it is a sound.

Take for example a dog whistle, humans can't hear it, but dogs can.