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Legolas · 09-13-2003, 03:19 PM

Other.
It sometimes happens that we are the only ones to visit a forest in some time, and then spot a recently fallen tree. If the tree has fallen because we are there, then there is no reason it should not make a sound while the tree is at it. After all, we are there, we could hear it.
The logical conclusion being that
a) trees only fall when there is noone around to see it, or
b) trees only fall when there is someone around to see it, but do not always make a sound. This selective behaviour would lead one to believe that trees are both sentient and very serious when it comes to the matter of making sounds. Or finally, there's option c.
c) Trees don't care if anyone's around when it comes to falling. If this is true then the presence of an ear is of no importance and trees make sounds when falling no matter what.

Cases a) and b) cannot, however, be solved entirely until we fill in another missing piece. For how does one define no-one? Are only humans able to be 'one'? If so, this raises further questions. Do other creatures even exist when there is no 'one' around to notice them? If one should ignore the presence of an insect, does it simply vanish until such a time as 'one' takes to think it back? If this is so, then trees simply are not there when noone is around, and can as a result not produce any sounds. Before we can answer the question whether or not a tree makes a sound when noone is around, we must first discover whether or not there is a world beyond that which us 'one's imagine.
Or is every creature able to detect sound a 'one'? In that case, is a tree ever alone? They should constantly have to provide sounds upon falling, for simple maths will show that there are so many creatures in existance that a tree can rarely if ever fall when noone is around.

When examining case c) the answer is plain, fortunately. Trees always make a sound when falling because that is one of the things they do. There needs be no other reason beyond that. This answer is somewhat boring however, so like most other humans I shall discard that notion as pure fiction.

And with that, the question remains unanswered. But then, it is not the real question you ought be asking yourself, now is it?

09-13-2003, 03:19 PM	#3
Legolas Jack Burton Join Date: March 31, 2001 Location: The zephyr lands beneath the brine. Age: 40 Posts: 5,459	Other. It sometimes happens that we are the only ones to visit a forest in some time, and then spot a recently fallen tree. If the tree has fallen because we are there, then there is no reason it should not make a sound while the tree is at it. After all, we are there, we could hear it. The logical conclusion being that a) trees only fall when there is noone around to see it, or b) trees only fall when there is someone around to see it, but do not always make a sound. This selective behaviour would lead one to believe that trees are both sentient and very serious when it comes to the matter of making sounds. Or finally, there's option c. c) Trees don't care if anyone's around when it comes to falling. If this is true then the presence of an ear is of no importance and trees make sounds when falling no matter what. Cases a) and b) cannot, however, be solved entirely until we fill in another missing piece. For how does one define no-one? Are only humans able to be 'one'? If so, this raises further questions. Do other creatures even exist when there is no 'one' around to notice them? If one should ignore the presence of an insect, does it simply vanish until such a time as 'one' takes to think it back? If this is so, then trees simply are not there when noone is around, and can as a result not produce any sounds. Before we can answer the question whether or not a tree makes a sound when noone is around, we must first discover whether or not there is a world beyond that which us 'one's imagine. Or is every creature able to detect sound a 'one'? In that case, is a tree ever alone? They should constantly have to provide sounds upon falling, for simple maths will show that there are so many creatures in existance that a tree can rarely if ever fall when noone is around. When examining case c) the answer is plain, fortunately. Trees always make a sound when falling because that is one of the things they do. There needs be no other reason beyond that. This answer is somewhat boring however, so like most other humans I shall discard that notion as pure fiction. And with that, the question remains unanswered. But then, it is not the real question you ought be asking yourself, now is it?