Falling Trees For Thoughtful Thursday...!

I figured that we needed to have a new topic to ponder, so here's one that's been discussed for a while now.

I don't know if there is really a right or a wrong answer, but I have a feeling this is one that will never be answered.

If A Tree Falls In The Forest

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

This old question has caused endless debate without getting closer to a definitive answer. Some people will gladly take a strong stance on the issue, insisting that the tree makes a sound because animals are probably there to hear it.

Others counter that the term “no one” means no humans or animals. According to their argument, there isn’t any sound if no person or animal hears it because perception is what creates a sound.

To prove the answer one way or the other, you need some kind of observer, even if it is only electronic. An electronic observation could then be translated by the person who listened to it for evidence. However, if there is any type of observer, then the “no one around to hear it” condition is violated. This makes the question impossible to answer.

However, this kind of question was likely formed without expecting a definitive answer. Originally, the question may have been a philosophical exercise to consider how much an action mattered if no one was around to observe or be affected by it. Over the years, it has turned into an actual debate among some scientists.

I got this little gem from the folks over at Listverse.

Coffee out on the patio this morning. I'm pretty sure you can hear the doves making their music.