Tree Falling in a Forest

[Elentari]

I'm sure many of you have heard of this: If a tree falls in a forest, and there's no one there to hear it, how do we know it makes a sound?

So, what are your opinions on this? A friend of mine knows somebody who brought this up in a philosophy lesson. They said that God will have heard it, because he is everywhere, so he will have been there to hear it. I think this is an interesting theory.

[Alatáriel]

I have heard something of that sort before... I believe it was:

If a locker slams in an empty hall, does it make a sound.

something of that sort... yes, but it seems as if someone could test that. Like you put a tape recorder in the hall, and then make somekind of device that when your in a completely different hall where you can here it, you press a button and it slams... but I dont think that is what it means.. I think there is something behind it...

[Myself]

Yes, but then, technically, someone would be listening afterwards, so it wouldn't really be a fair test.

I think it may be a bit of a conceited question. Trees are older than humans - plants were one of the first things on the earth. Frankly, I don't think this tree, unless it has some kind of attention seeking disorder, or is feeling particularly difficult on the day of the event, really cares whether anyone is there to hear or not...

[Lossentilien]

I think it's one of those questions that just simply does not have a right answer, like the chicken and the egg, you can think about it for ages, but not get any further.

Personally, I don't have any faith in god (traumatic childhood issues there) so I don't really consider that when attempting to find some solutions.
If I had a more scientific mind, I would probably talk about the laws of nature, and about how the tree would technically have to make a sound. But as I'm not a technical person, I'd have to argue that if there was no one/thing to hear it, then it hasn't been witnessed. If you think about it, does sound exist if it's never heard? Or would darkness exist if you were completly surrounded by light?

[Niluial]

OOO I like this! You see I also heard this theory about the pages in a book when you close the book the pages are blank…. It sounds stupid if you ask me. But the sound thing is cool. Nilly sits and thinks.

Another thing which I cant describe pretty well is have you ever sat still and thought for a while and suddenly ask where am I? You feel as though you are looking down upon yourself…

[Lossentilien]

Or if you look into a mirror too long. First your face stops making sense, and then you don't recognise it, and you suddenly have this weird feeling that you're not you, and you keeping staring into the mirror thinking that you don't know who on earth you are.
It's the creepiest feeling.

That, or your eyes go blurry and you have to stop.

[Elentari]

Doing that is fun... until it freaks you out! I also sometimes either go 'Ooo, i look goo toay' or 'AH! I'm such a minger!'

[Niluial]

OOOO Nilly is going to try the mirror thing!

[Dragoneyes]

I once stared at the mirror really hard and opened my eyes really wide and freaked myself out and I ran out of the room... but returned very very quickly realising how foolish I looked.

Back to the tree falling thing: I'd like someone to try and find a forest where there's nothing there to hear anything. With all the animals around, I don't really think it's an issue. Of course, the vibrations that make the sound could make a leaf fall off another tree and therefore there would have to be a sound (look at me being all scientific!).

I do have moments when I look at other peoples' faces and really don't recognise them. It's weird.

[Mippin]

How about "Does the light in the refridgerator reaaallly turn off when we close the door?" I've actually climbed in my fridge and closed the door, it does go out.

[Elentari]

*shakes head at elvish hobbit* All you have to do is push to button thing

[Mippin]

haha, I know, but that was when I was little and didn't know about the button.
besides, sitting in the fridge is fun.

[GaladrielOlden]

I know, when I was really little I hid in the fridge when playing hide and seek.

If a locker slams in an empty hall, does it make a sound.

But who will have slammed the locker? XD

-Menelien

[Mippin]

lol true. Actually, I was in a classroom one time, looking out at the hallway to see the lockers, and one was open. A gust of wind from the open doors leading outside slammed it shut, and we all heard a noise...does that count as it being an empty hall?

[InklingElf]

Or would darkness exist if you were completly surrounded by light?

Where there is a candle--the candle casts a shadow...The closer you are to the light, the bigger your shadow becomes.

It is [if I may say so] a law of human nature--not to mention nature--in all its aura.

I participated in a Socratic Seminar for this topic once--we all came out with the same conclusion (-_-) lol...Anyway, without further ado, I will try not to drift too far from the stated topic.

Firstly, does the mute--or din of a falling tree truly matter that much? Well, no, not really but that's what we're here to talk about right? heh... In order to view this trivial question from all possible view points, we must first ponder how it ended up on a crash course to the lower ground? why the laws of gravity mercilessly killed the poor organic LIVING THING!? ...OK don't answer the second one

I wonder how long we can stay sane after such a triviality...Crashing trees and the curious sounds a locker makes after all is quiet...? Do they have something in common? Well, nobody else was there--that's for sure--and the only person who witnessed it didn't have the sheer sensibility to tell US if it did make a noise!!!