[ XXXVIII | Audio ]

[lunchpenalty]

[ His communicator loves him. Really, it does. Recording him trying to make out what the hell one of the philosophy books he has means. ]

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Wouldn't it make a sound regardless of who was there to... Doesn't this book ask any worthwhile questions? Geeze...

Comments

[sukimahag]

No sound is made, as there is no tree to make it.

[lunchpenalty]

...If the question states there is a tree... then there is a tree.

[sukimahag]

If the question states no-one is there, then the tree is an illusion.

[lunchpenalty]

If it states no one is there, then no one is there. If it says there's a tree, there's a tree. You can't just go changing the content of the question like that.

[kan_chyan]

You're suppose to think on the question and meditate with it. Ask other questions like "Is there sound if no one is there to hear it?" you can even go so far as to say "is it even fallen without someone there to see it?". Like the questions "What is the sound of one hand clapping" and "Who am I?".

[lunchpenalty]

[ Gdit, communicator. ]

But isn't it obvious that it would make a sound?

[kan_chyan]

Is it obvious? If you're not there to observe it, did it happen? Does it exist? Or, does it only happen when there are ears and eyes to experience it? A tree already fallen, did it fall? Or was it always like that to begin with?

You can't think scientifically for these questions.

[lunchpenalty]

So put a tape recorder in the forest and record it. If it makes a sound when someone is there, it will make a sound if no one is anywhere near it. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

[aimedforleg]

Of course. Despite it being a long standing question, the answer is obvious. Whether a person is in the forest to hear the tree falling, it will always make a sound because it's really happening.

The lack of a human presence doesn't invalidate an act of nature.

[lunchpenalty]

Exactly. I don't understand why it would ask this kind of question.

[7th_warrant]

An old query... Scientifically speaking, it does make a sound. But what worth is sound if no person exists to behold that sound?

[lunchpenalty]

[ Stupid communicator. ]

Yeah... I guess so.

[7th_warrant]

What is the worth of sound to you?

[lunchpenalty]

I... guess I'd have to say I value it a lot.

[godpwnsu]

That's the best post you can come up with?

[lunchpenalty]

It wasn't meant to be anything public, Haruhi. I just wanted a break.

[godpwnsu]

Careful, they probably did on purpose to spy on you.

[lunchpenalty]

If they did, I doubt they caught anything interesting.