If a tree falls in a forest...

[eyeresist]

This question was debated in an episode of QI I saw recently, and I was surprised at how strongly people feel about the matter.

I voted "yes": sound is vibrations through air, ergo there was sound.

"Banana" includes the Schrodinger option.

[Mirror Image]

Yes, there is a sound whether someone was around or not. We all know that when something hits the ground it makes a sound. We all know when you fry chicken it makes a crackling sound in the hot oil even if we're not around to hear that sound. There were people cheering at a ball game today, but I know what it sounds like to be at a ball game with people cheering. It all has to do with memory recall.

[DavidRoss]

The question really asks whether we understand "sound" as the propagation of waves in a medium or as the conscious awareness of auditory perception of such waves.

[eyeresist]

The question really asks whether we understand "sound" as the propagation of waves in a medium or as the conscious awareness of auditory perception of such waves.

... and whether we regard our own "understanding" as more truthful than other ideas of reality ...

Yup.

[Holden]

...it made a sound for whatever living creatures were there to experience it. The fact that we weren't is immaterial unless egocentricity is the norm.

As for Schrodinger's cat.... a fascinating theory

[Opus106]

Just before I left the forest, I placed a recorder there capable of detecting ultra- and infra-sonic frequencies in addition to the "human range". Wait a bit while I check the data, would you?

[Opus106]

As for Schrodinger's cat.... a fascinating theory

It's a paradox based on the conclusions of a pre-existing body of knowledge -- a theory, if you will -- and one which criticises it, but not a theory by itself.

[springrite]

It all depends on what kind of tree it is, whether the country where the forest is located is communist,  and whether the person who is not there is a lesbian.

[Todd]

The important question here is why the tree fell in the first place.

[karlhenning]

Had to go with the fruiterer option.

[Mn Dave]

Who made the tree?

[Cato]

There is no such thing as a tree.   

I could, however, show you an oak, maple, buckeye, or even a eucalyptus tree.

I cannot show you a tree, other than a drawing of a generic tree.

Since trees as such do not exist, they therefore can make no sound.

Thank you!

Q.E.D.

P.S.

Human beings do not exist either!

So this post also is non-existent!   

[Grazioso]

If it's balsa or cork oak, no 

[Elgarian]

I'm concerned that this poll invites us to violate the fundamental arboreal rights to privacy of the tree. If it wants to make a sound when it's alone, and thinks it did, then who are we to be the judge of whether it did or not?

[springrite]

What exactly is a tree anyway? When is a shrub big enough to be a tree? Or a bush? Or...

Wait, time to water my tree.

[mc ukrneal]

I'm concerned that this poll invites us to violate the fundamental arboreal rights to privacy of the tree. If it wants to make a sound when it's alone, and thinks it did, then who are we to be the judge of whether it did or not?

Great response! Trees are people too!

[karlhenning]

http://www.youtube.com/v/5bNu4xLIzso

[Grazioso]

No. 1 The Larch

If a lumberjack puts on women's clothing in a forest, does he make a sound?

http://www.youtube.com/v/5zey8567bcg

[springrite]

If a lumberjack puts on women's clothing in a forest, does he make a sound?

Not unless he wears high heels.

[Elgarian]

If a lumberjack puts on women's clothing in a forest, does he make a sound?

I believe philosophers have been unable to resolve this one. The only thing we can be sure of is that he's OK.