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

That's akin to saying "I stayed awake one night to see if I snored."



I wasn't trying to negate other views, I was just trying to illustrate my view of a question of perspective as I understand it. To me, sound is strictly a Human-interpreted sensory experience of the physical effect of the tree falling, as manifested in the brain. Yes the physical phenomenon of vibration can exist in isolation. "Sound" is a term given to the brain's sensory interpretation of changes and vibrations of air pressure as translated by the auditory nerve. I'm not saying the bell does not "ring" if nobody hears it, just that it makes no "sound".

I make this determination due to the specific phrasing of the question. If the question were rephrased to say "If a tree falls ~ ...does it make a vibration in the air?" then my answer would be quite different. I think the question is phrased to say "sound" specifically to cause discussion of context and perspective.

I do understand and appreciate all views and perspectives.

I guess all the scientist that describe how things began with the "Big Bang" were wrong in their wording, unless bang does not mean a sudden loud noise! (noise being sound)

I guess all the scientist that describe how things began with the "Big Bang" were wrong in their wording, unless bang does not mean a sudden loud noise! (noise being sound)

Well, there's no sound in space, so... "Alien" had it more accurate with the tagline, "In space, no one can hear you scream."

I guess all the scientist that describe how things began with the "Big Bang" were wrong in their wording, unless bang does not mean a sudden loud noise! (noise being sound)

Bang definitely does not mean loud noise in this case. Bang is referring to the projection or release of matter from a central point. I would personally replace "Big Bang" with "Big Expansion" as expansion gives the impression of a longer time scale, whereas bang usually implies a short explosion.

As I believe there was no big bang, not even a whimper, the sound it did not make, that no one could hear is a philosophical error.

Is it sound we are all questioning or all the human senses? Is it every event that has or might occur? Does it refer to just me or every one? If you heard it fall and I did not, did it make a noise?

Bang definitely does not mean loud noise in this case. Bang is referring to the projection or release of matter from a central point. I would personally replace "Big Bang" with "Big Expansion" as expansion gives the impression of a longer time scale, whereas bang usually implies a short explosion.

Yes, I am aware that the Big Bang does not mean what it implies. A particle (containing the whole universe) of unknown origin expanded until, well, here we are today. That sounds impossible -

-- Updated Tue Aug 14, 2012 2:17 pm to add the following --

Why are vibrations carried through the air called sound waves if they contain no sound?

Yes, I am aware that the Big Bang does not mean what it implies. A particle (containing the whole universe) of unknown origin expanded until, well, here we are today. That sounds impossible -

-- Updated Tue Aug 14, 2012 2:17 pm to add the following --

Why are vibrations carried through the air called sound waves if they contain no sound?

The BB a concept that has many fans but no conclusive proof. The atheists blind faith in a concept that they might deny others.

That is strange. Vibrations in air that we call sound suddenly do not exist because of the word. Sounds a bit suspect to me.

There are many ways to answer this question. There's actually no one single answer. This is the type of question you'll require to think in and out of the box:

1. For the human to be able to sense it: No. It does not produce enough sound for them to hear what they cannot hear.

2. With what we know objectively inside of the laws of gravity, living things that have the ability to hear know that if it fell it did create a sound. Just nobody was there to hear it. So yes, it does produce sound to those that know sound exists under the laws of gravity. This second example becomes common sense.

3. The fact that if it fell under circumstances that had different gravities, no gravity, or no ability to produce sound, then we can conclude that it may not have been possible to produce sound. However, this is going beyond the question, and could be suitable for metaphorical debates that can last quite a while. It misguides us, but also helps us think beyond.

The more accurate answers are 1 & 2. 3 only helps us tune our brain to think out of the box.

Why are vibrations carried through the air called sound waves if they contain no sound?

Why are they called "driveways" when we don't drive in them?

Why are they called "parkways" when we don't park in them?

Why are they called "10-Gallon" hats when they won't hold 10 gallons?

Why is it called a "Monkey Wrench" when it's not used to tighten a monkey's nuts?

Why are they called "driveways" when we don't drive in them?

Why are they called "parkways" when we don't park in them?

Why are they called "10-Gallon" hats when they won't hold 10 gallons?

Why is it called a "Monkey Wrench" when it's not used to tighten a monkey's nuts?

tou che and funny stuff! I loved Gallagher too!!

Why do humans call each other smart asses when they don't think with their asses? What about the dumb asses?

Well, there's no sound in space, so... "Alien" had it more accurate with the tagline, "In space, no one can hear you scream."

There might not be sound as such because there are only radio waves in space but these can be changed into sound via special telescopes which give us an impression of what space sounds like if we could perceive those radio waves. To quote the Nasa homepage:

"You might be surprised by what sounds from space are like. Sometimes they sound like ocean waves or like popcorn popping. They can even sound like a hissing snake."

There might not be sound as such because there are only radio waves in space but these can be changed into sound via special telescopes which give us an impression of what space sounds like if we could perceive those radio waves. To quote the Nasa homepage:

"You might be surprised by what sounds from space are like. Sometimes they sound like ocean waves or like popcorn popping. They can even sound like a hissing snake."

I'm sure the universe is even stranger than we could imagine.

Oh yeah. It's a mind-blowing place we know so little about. There is still so much we don't know, even about the Big Bang and how it happened. Maybe once scientists get behind what caused the Big Bang we'll understand more about our universe and if it's maybe not just a big chain reaction of possible multiverses merging into one or something crazy like that.

Maybe once scientists get behind what caused the Big Bang we'll understand more about our universe and if it's maybe not just a big chain reaction of possible multiverses merging into one or something crazy like that.

Is that sort of knowledge worth it's own weight without a practical use?

I think peoples understanding of science has gone backwards. You should know the definition of the word "sound" so why ask questions such as "Why are vibrations carried through the air called sound waves if they contain no sound?" For those who do not, "Sound" refers to vibrations that travel through a medium and are capable of being "heard" by something such as an ear.

The only reason why we are discussing the big bang is because the media has milked the term. It's like the Higgs Boson particle being called the "God particle". What utter rubbish. Simply sensationalism just like the "big bang". I think a lot of physicists would agree on that. I do not see people discussing the Steady State theory for example or The Infinite Universe theory.

There are more than just radio waves in space. There are neutrinos, the entire electromagnetic spectrum, random elements, beta + and - particles, alpha particles etc.

Of course, that the tree fell and made a sound is true. That there was no ear/mind to hear it is also true. That some unknown remote mind, heard it through whatever means or not is also true. Even that a present mind did not hear it fall or heard it fall when it hasn’t even fallen (hallucination) is all true. Would one say because there was no one there to know that there was no one there implies someone was there? There is an absolute truth... perhaps a relative one as well. On this note, all things are true and all potentials possible. Thus, everything can come from "nothingness" (note: not "nothing" which is itself an assertion) with an asserting mind which must first of all assert itself from this nothingness as "I".