If a Tree Falls in the Woods

 

This is a question that has always bothered me

 

“If a tree falls in the woods

And nobody is around to hear it

Does it make a sound?”

 

This is a simple question based in arrogance

 

Just because a human isn’t there to hear it

Doesn’t mean that there aren’t thousands of other

Beings that are capable of hearing it.

 

For anybody to think

that just because a human isn’t in the picture

That life doesn’t go on

Is ludicrous.

 

 

If you want to move beyond that explanation

Consider this

 

According to merriam-webster the definition of sound is

                                                             a “mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves

in a material medium (as air) and is the objective cause of hearing” (*sound)

 

According to the definition of sound

The waves are sound before they ever get to the ear.

Once the waves get to the ear they are Perceived (*Hearing),

or “become aware of through the senses” (*Perceived)

 

Part of the definition of sound

Uses the word tone. If you look at the definition of tone

It is defined as “a sound of definite pitch and vibration” (*Tone)

If a tone is a sound then according to the definition of sound

In combination with the definition of tone

A tone is just a certain pitch of a sound wave

 

We have come to the answer of our question

If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is there to hear it

the tree still creates sound waves when it hits the ground

If there were no ears to perceive the sound

then it wouldn’t produce hearing

but producing hearing

isn’t possible for the tree in the first place.

It can only produce the vibration

that causes the sound waves to form

It plays no part in the perception of those waves

Other than their initial creation.

The perception of sound waves

is an entirely different situation all together.

(*sound) (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sound)

a : a particular auditory impression : tone

b : the sensation perceived by the sense of hearing

c : mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves

in a material medium (as air) and is the objective cause of hearing

(*Hearing) http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hearing?show=0&t=1310156477

noun

1 a : the process, function, or power of perceiving sound;

specifically : the special sense by which noises and tones are received as stimuli

(*Tone) http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tone

1: vocal or musical sound of a specific quality

<spoke in low tones> <masculine tones>; especially :

musical sound with respect to timbre and manner of expression

2

a : a sound of definite pitch and vibration

 

 

(*Perceiving)  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perceiving

a : to attain awareness or understanding of

b : to regard as being such <perceived threats> <was perceived as a loser>

2 : to become aware of through the senses; especially