If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it...

Elai · October 05, 2015, 11:13:09 AM

...does it make a sound?

Classic thought experiment.

My gut tells me yes.

Ender · October 05, 2015, 11:20:12 AM

Yeah, it falling still causes vibrations

cxfhvxgkcf-56:7 · October 05, 2015, 11:22:34 AM

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Doctor Doom · October 05, 2015, 11:23:32 AM

I would hear it. I hear everything.

Elai · October 05, 2015, 11:25:50 AM

Quote from: Enduuuuuuur on October 05, 2015, 11:20:12 AM

Yeah, it falling still causes vibrations

Well, not being able to hear it = no tangible effects of its fall, in this context.

Meaning it cannot be observed.

Septy · October 05, 2015, 11:26:35 AM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observer_effect_(physics)

Verbatim · October 05, 2015, 11:29:38 AM

Of course it does. Solipsism is stupid.

Mordo · October 05, 2015, 11:31:51 AM

Sound is just a human sensory input. The stimulus from a tree falling would be entirely different depending on the subject experiencing it.

We can quantifiably gauge sound though, so the effects of a tree falling within the environment are categorically objective. The only subjectivity involved is how we process the effects, i.e. a tree falling for a human would be remarkably different to a tree falling for an insect.

eggsalad · October 05, 2015, 01:18:43 PM

something something justified true belief or something blah blah

PSU · October 05, 2015, 01:56:57 PM

No it doesn't. The definition of a sound is "vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person's or animal's ear."

Elai · October 05, 2015, 03:27:06 PM

Quote from: PSU on October 05, 2015, 01:56:57 PM

No it doesn't. The definition of a sound is "vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person's or animal's ear."

Well, those vibrations can be heard, they just weren't. If someone were there to hear them, they would, obviously, hear them.

Winy · October 05, 2015, 08:42:43 PM

I think? I mean I guess you could argue that it's not a "Sound" unless it's heard, but everything that's kind of dumb reasoning.

R o c k e t · October 05, 2015, 08:45:36 PM

I can't believe people still think this is a hard question to answer.

SecondClass · October 05, 2015, 09:03:27 PM

Quote from: PSU on October 05, 2015, 01:56:57 PM

No it doesn't. The definition of a sound is "vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person's or animal's ear."

This is what I was taught in middle school, but I don't know if it's still accurate.

Mad Max · October 05, 2015, 09:13:40 PM

Turkey · October 05, 2015, 09:27:37 PM

They create sound waves, but if you go by the definition that sound is a sound wave that is heard by an animal then no, it doesn't.

Verbatim · October 05, 2015, 09:37:52 PM

Quote from: HurtfulTurkey on October 05, 2015, 09:27:37 PM

They create sound waves, but if you go by the definition that sound is a sound wave that is heard by an animal then no, it doesn't.

That seems really silly, doesn't it?... And circular.

ΚΑΤΑΝΑΛΩΤΗΣ · October 05, 2015, 09:43:27 PM

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Turkey · October 05, 2015, 09:46:42 PM

Quote from: Fuddy-duddy on October 05, 2015, 09:37:52 PM

Quote from: HurtfulTurkey on October 05, 2015, 09:27:37 PM
They create sound waves, but if you go by the definition that sound is a sound wave that is heard by an animal then no, it doesn't.
That seems really silly, doesn't it?... And circular.

Well yeah, it is silly. It's extremely pedantic and pointless. Of course that tree makes a sound.