If a tree fell in a forest and no one was around...

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If a tree fell in a forest and no one was around did it make a noise?

I have never understood that question. Of course it does. So because I wasn't there it didn't make a sound? That could mean anything that I wasn't there for didn't happen. The birds would have reacted if the tree had fallen and the noise, so how would it have not made a sound?

It would still make a sound even if no one was around to hear it.

From what I know about quantum theory, if there is nobody around, if there is no observer, we can't even be sure whether the tree fell or not. "No one" would include the birds, too. In that case, the tree would be in a state where it has fallen and it has not fallen at the same time, and it will stay in such an state until someone goes there and checks it out.

Don't really know how to analyze the sound itself though =/

Ahh a version of Schrodinger's cat that I just got caught up on the details with. I mean there would be a ton of animals, even ones living in and on the tree so it didn't make sense to me.

The hypothetical question includes all beings capable of hearing. Not just humans. As I see it, it depends on the definition of "sound." If it is any vibration within the range (both volume and frequency) of being audible, then the answer is "yes, it makes a sound."

If you define "noise" as the sound wave created by the tree, then it does. If you define "noise" as something that is perceived (which makes sense too, because otherwise, all there is is unanalyzed waves of a certain frequency within an arbitrary range), then it doesn't.

Any different answer only depends on a different definition of "sound". As such, it is only a debate of definition.

The way the question was explained to me when I was a child was that "if no person, and no bird nor animal heard it-- would it make a sound?"

Which means its a question of semantics.

Does the word "sound" mean the sensory impression, or does "sound" mean the vibrations in the atmosphere which trigger the sensory impression in the human ear?

If the former then the answer is no it makes no sound. If the latter than the answer is yes it does make a sound.

The tree would make a crashing noise (ie would impact the atmosphere with sound waves) but it would not create any sensation of sound if no hearing creature were within earshot.

I go with the idea that "sound" means the sound waves themselves. So it would make a sound even if nothing were there to hear it.

It would be less ambiguous if it stated "if a volcano erupts on Venus does it make a sound"? because Venus does have an atmosphere through which sound waves can travel, but nothing -not even bugs- live on Venus to hear any sound there.

I've always taken it to be asking "if a sound isn't heard is it still a sound?"

WIthout someone there to hear it, is it meaningless?

In some way that, to me, seems to apply as well to our lives and relationships and actions, emotions, etc. The only problem is, I can't put what I'm thinking into words. It's just a concept in my head. I'll try and figure out how to put in words.

Although I had no idea the question was about science. I thought it was about philosophy.

It has also it's philosophy. On relationships for example, I've always had this doubt: if my girlfriend cheats on me, and hides it so well that I never suspect anything, does she still cheat on me? And to up the stakes, if I had a wife and she had a son with another guy I believe is mine, but I never find out and die thinking he's my son, did it really matter then? What we don't know doesn't affect us, if we don't hear the tree then it doesn't really matter if it did a sound or it didn't is that maybe what you wanted to say? And what do the others think about what I said?

Usually when a tree falls and no human is around to know it, the tree bursts into flame and explodes upon impact. That is why forest rangers observe from those high towers, to prevent forest fires.

Noise and Sound are perceptions and need perceivers. Vibrations in the air are physical happenings and need vibrators.

ruveyn

What is a "sound wave" as opposed to any other kind of wave is just the fact that a) certain sensors react to it b) it can be interpreted by the brain in a defined manner. We perceive it as sound because our brain analyzes aural inputs this way. It could be interpreted otherwise. Indeed, on a computer, what we understand as sound becomes a unidimensional sinusoidal function. Bats and submarines/anti-submarine ships actively use sound to create a three-dimensional map of their surroundings.

Does a dog whistle make a "sound?" A dog would say yes. Humans would debate the issue. Likewise, frequencies too low for us to hear are said to be audible by elephants from miles away.

Well, sound is not like other waves at all (assuming you mean the spectrum of electromagnetic waves, things like X-Rays, microwaves, light, radio waves, etc). It is not on that spectrum at all. All sound is, is just a vibration in the medium (whether it be air or water or whatever else). Without a medium it cannot propagate, for instance. This is not true of electomagnetic waves which can propagate in a vacuum.

Do all philosophers enjoy asking pointless questions in an attempt to seem smart?

As this is a topic about which I quickly talk way above my knowledge, I will concede that, but it doesn't challenge my main point.