Hey Gary
Our philosophy discussion group has convened for many years. Gary and I have had a long standing difference of view regarding a particular staple thought-experiment. The philosophical conundrum goes thusly:
If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it fall, does the falling tree make a sound?
Gary’s conclusion is that of course the tree indeed makes a sound.
My assertion is that it does not.
Upon the basis of common sense it sounds like I am the idiot. On the face of the matter, Gary seems to be right.
This thought experiment is fundamental to philosophy, aiming our attention upon the foundations of thought. The same question has risen over and over 
in various forms.
Here is one that captures the context of the networked time in which we all live.
If a person lives in a forest and is not on TV, does she make a sound?
–NPR Morning Edition
The photos were taken at along Kraklauer Creek in Mundelein at 6:30 PM on September 12, 2017. Aristotle was right. Philosophy begins in wonder.
One thought on “Hey Gary”
Does a falling tree make a sound if humans are not present? While a fun philosophical discussion for sure, it has little to do with science in that I could argue about the vibrations created, the cracking of wood and the blow to the ground. But let me stick with philosophy so the discussion can continue ad infinitum (wink).
I think of all that has happened since the big bang, believing it must have taken place for us to now be able to think about it. Like a falling tree, making vibrations that can be interpreted by humans and animals as something to run from, evolution has been an ongoing process to get us here, and it took place before we were here.
Here lies a man, he was an ape.
Nature, grown weary of his shape,
Conceived and carried out the plan
By which the ape is now a man.
Doesn’t a Chimpanzee use tree branches to slam into other things for the purpose to make noise to scare othes? Just because he can’t utter the word noise does not mean he is not making any. If you see a squirrel scampering from a falling tree don’t you suppose it is running from the vibrations/noise and has experience enough to get out of the way?
Emily Dickinson’s “The Brain Is Wider Than the Sky”
The Brain – is wider than the Sky –
For – put them side by side-
The one the other will contain
With ease – and you – beside –
The Brain is deeper than the sea –
For – hold them – Blue to Blue –
The one the other will absorb –
As Sponges – Buckets – do –
The Brain is just the weight of God –
For – Heft them – Pound for Pound –
And they will differ – if they do –
As Syllable from Sound –