06 Aug 2010, 1:23 am
06 Aug 2010, 3:55 am
stickboy26 wrote:
Quote:
Here's a question. Let's say hypothetically that you live in Antarctica and have never ever seen a tree. And if someone, an outsider, asked you "if a tree fell in the forest, what sound would it make?", how would you as someone who has no idea of a tree, answer that?
Well all I can say is Thank God for YouTube!!
Errr.. sorry I don't quite understand.
TeaEarlGreyHot wrote:
i_wanna_blue wrote:
Here's a question. Let's say hypothetically that you live in Antarctica and have never ever seen a tree. And if someone, an outsider, asked you "if a tree fell in the forest, what sound would it make?", how would you as someone who has no idea of a tree, answer that?
I would imagine my answer would be "How should I know?" or "I have incomplete data and therefore cannot reach a definitive conclusion".
I honestly don't get the point of this question.
The point is that this debate is going on about energy and sound, because of your prior knowledge of what a tree is, and what happens when it falls. Those same principles don't apply if you haven't seen a tree or do not understand what a tree does when it falls.
As I said before the point of the question, is not to give an answer but for one to realise how limited ones perception is. Because to that person who has no knowledge of what a tree is, in essence to him a tree doesn't exist. But as we know trees do exist, and thus our ignorance limits our universal experience.
06 Aug 2010, 6:46 am
If a tree landed in a forest, and ears never evolved, would it make a sound 
BTW a previous post mentioned Buddhism and God. For the record, Buddhism is not a theistic religion.
06 Aug 2010, 11:33 am
06 Aug 2010, 11:53 am
06 Aug 2010, 11:56 am
i_wanna_blue wrote:
TeaEarlGreyHot wrote:
But not knowing what a tree is and what it sounds like when it falls doesn't alter facts.
Exactly, ones ignorance doesn't result in something not existing.
So that was your round about way of saying it does make a noise?
06 Aug 2010, 11:58 am
Rocky wrote:
If a tree landed in a forest, and ears never evolved, would it make a sound
Yes. As I said before, if I punched you in the face while your eyes were closed, it'd still hurt, even if you didn't know about it.
06 Aug 2010, 1:47 pm
Wuffles wrote:
if a tree falls in the forest...
...the tank needs to pick up his game.
-.-
...the tank needs to pick up his game.
-.-
Hey now! Don't throw heals while I'm pulling and haven't hit the target yet! I have a ton of HP; an extra second isn't gonna wipe us.
06 Aug 2010, 1:55 pm
TeaEarlGreyHot wrote:
i_wanna_blue wrote:
TeaEarlGreyHot wrote:
But not knowing what a tree is and what it sounds like when it falls doesn't alter facts.
Exactly, ones ignorance doesn't result in something not existing.
So that was your round about way of saying it does make a noise?
No, you see what the 'right' answer is, is immaterial. The question is posed to show you that even though you cannot experience or fathom something it does not result in that something not existing. By understanding that a tree will make a noise shows that through knowledge you have been enlightened. But by ignorance you have only showed your limited way of being able to experience, not that trees and noise don't exist. So to say that some sound will occur, exactly the same sound that would occur as if you did experience the tree falling is not wrong. It's just that the question is suppose to teach you something, about how little one experiences about the universe.The question is not meant for you to give a wrong or right answer.
That's what I've taken a long time to try and say.
06 Aug 2010, 2:01 pm
Gah! I don't get it. Why ask a question that has a right/wrong answer if you don't care what the answer is?! 
06 Aug 2010, 2:12 pm
06 Aug 2010, 11:34 pm
Asp-Z wrote:
Rocky wrote:
If a tree landed in a forest, and ears never evolved, would it make a sound
Yes. As I said before, if I punched you in the face while your eyes were closed, it'd still hurt, even if you didn't know about it.
If ears never evolved (existed) would "sound" exist? Maybe that is how this original question (or koan) should have been worded.
If a tree fell in a forest and and ears never existed would it make a sound? One could answer "No, because sound never existed." Or one could answer "Thank you. I shall ponder your (rhetorical) question and try to learn from my pondering.
07 Aug 2010, 4:33 am
Rocky wrote:
Asp-Z wrote:
Rocky wrote:
If a tree landed in a forest, and ears never evolved, would it make a sound
Yes. As I said before, if I punched you in the face while your eyes were closed, it'd still hurt, even if you didn't know about it.
If ears never evolved (existed) would "sound" exist? Maybe that is how this original question (or koan) should have been worded.
If a tree fell in a forest and and ears never existed would it make a sound? One could answer "No, because sound never existed." Or one could answer "Thank you. I shall ponder your (rhetorical) question and try to learn from my pondering.
A sound is vibrations in the air, and they still occur whether or not they reach ears, so of course it makes a damn sound.
Does my fist still hit your face if you can't see it?
07 Aug 2010, 6:31 am
I love this forum.
07 Aug 2010, 7:46 am
Does a bear s**t in the woods? I haven't a clue. Do they live in the woods? What about the pope? Does he s**t in the woods? I don't know, I'm not stalking him... 
The tree does make a sound. Sound travels a long way. But saying that NO-ONE is around to hear it means that the planet is dead. The sound can travel a long way in a short time - so someone will have heard it.
This isn't one of those "half-Empty/Half-full" scenarios is it?
Half-empty is when you're drinking the damned thing, or draining it.
Half-Full is when you're filling it up - END OF that one 
What's to say the tree makes another type of sound or something that people can not perceive?
I see a gunshot, but I don't hear it. Does that gun still make a sound? - YES IT DOES, DAMMIT
07 Aug 2010, 9:17 am
