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If a tree falls in the forest...(and more philosophy)

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 16:17
by Train-a-Mania
...and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

I want to see what others think before I give my opinion.

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 16:19
by DeletedUser21
It certainly makes noise, there is just no receiver to notice it.

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 16:29
by Piotrekjjj
Yes, but on the other hand, how can you know if it makes a sound? Maybe it's making a sound only if somebody is around :D
Well, if there's nobody to notice it, then... damned, I lost myself. Never mind :D

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 16:49
by Saibot
Well, it's quite obvious that it makes the same amount of noice as it would if someone was around to hear it.
Why would it not make a sound just because nobody is there to hear it?

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 16:51
by Hyronymus
the marvelles of philosophy. Based on past experience I think everybody is tempted to say it would although everyone recognises it's not a 'watertight reasoning'. If you look at the scientific part of the lemma you posted the answer would clearly be 'Yes' though.

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 17:07
by lws1984
Well, you could always put up a microphone, then there won't be anyone around!

Seriously, anything as big as a tree is going to make enough sound vibrations whether someone hears it or not.

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 17:23
by TheGrew
Because sound is actuly vibrations (which our ear drum turns into sound) And by falling the tree is obviously going to make vibrations because when it hits the earth vibrations will be created therefore yes it would make a sound.

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 17:34
by Patchman
The far more interesting question, however, is what is the sound of one hand clapping?

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 17:41
by SpComb
If a stealth bomber crashes in a forest, does it make a sound?

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 18:10
by AndersI
Patchman wrote:The far more interesting question, however, is what is the sound of one hand clapping?
There was a famous Swedish discus thrower that could clap very load with one hand. I can also produce sound with one hand only...

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 18:13
by DominionSpy
alistairgrew wrote:Because sound is actuly vibrations (which our ear drum turns into sound) And by falling the tree is obviously going to make vibrations because when it hits the earth vibrations will be created therefore yes it would make a sound.
The most sensible answer.

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 18:13
by TheGrew
Thank you

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 18:32
by DeletedUser21
Patchman wrote:The far more interesting question, however, is what is the sound of one hand clapping?
That depends on what you hit with that one hand. :wink:

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 19:03
by Chrill
Mr. X wrote:
Patchman wrote:The far more interesting question, however, is what is the sound of one hand clapping?
That depends on what you hit with that one hand. :wink:
Just shut the hand quickly ;)

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 19:06
by XeryusTC
The real question:
What came first, the egg or the chicken?

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 19:07
by Chrill
They came at the same time. Cus if I say that, I´m both right and wrong ;)

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 21:18
by DeletedUser21
Ah! Classic, I think the chicken came first, in the evolutionary process it became an animal to lay eggs (probably from it's reptillian counterpart right before the '65mil.-years-ago-accident'. So I think the ancestor of the chicken inherited the ability to lay eggs in order to have a way of reproducing it self.

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 21:28
by Samwise
Mr. X wrote:Ah! Classic, I think the chicken came first, in the evolutionary process it became an animal to lay eggs (probably from it's reptillian counterpart right before the '65mil.-years-ago-accident'. So I think the ancestor of the chicken inherited the ability to lay eggs in order to have a way of reproducing it self.
I agree with Mr.X, I mean, why should suddently an egg appear in the middle of nowhere? I think it must have been an animal that first only could get alive children and then slowly changed to an egg laying chicken. Maybe he did that evolution cuz he new that the people 65 mil. years later would love them ;)

Note: think about the half of the progres.. both laying eggs AND getting alive babies.. lol..

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 21:41
by chazz
But who appeared first - man or woman?

/chazz

Posted: 21 Apr 2006 21:45
by Prof. Frink
Mr. X wrote:Ah! Classic, I think the chicken came first, in the evolutionary process it became an animal to lay eggs (probably from it's reptillian counterpart right before the '65mil.-years-ago-accident'. So I think the ancestor of the chicken inherited the ability to lay eggs in order to have a way of reproducing it self.
So where did those reptilian ancestors hatch from?