If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
This is one of those annoying questions that philosophy professors like to pose as thought experiments to students pondering the nature of reality. A true student of philosophy may launch into a heavy discussion of metaphysics. Those who prefer their questions to be answerable would do well to respond: It depends. Define “sound.”
The American Heritage Dictionary has four relevant definitions of “sound”:
1a. Vibrations transmitted through an elastic solid or a liquid or gas, with frequencies in the approximate range of 20 to 20,000 hertz, capable of being detected by human organs of hearing. b. Transmitted vibrations of any frequency. c. The sensation stimulated in the organs of hearing by such vibrations in the air or other medium. d. Such sensations considered as a group.
Using those definitions, we can ask a more meaningful questions, and arrive at definitive answers.
- If a tree falls in the forest and no on is around to hear it, does it transmit vibrations through an elastic solid or a liquid or gas, with frequencies in the approximate range of 20 to 20,000 hertz, capable of being detected by human organs of hearing? Yes.
- If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it transmit vibrations of any frequency? Yes.
- If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it stimulate sensation in the organs of hearing by such vibrations in the air or other medium? No.
- If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it cause such sensations considered as a group? No.
The exercise above may seem a bit ridiculous, but it illustrates an important and often overlooked aspect of problem solving: Document assumptions.
Do you find yourself working with a group of people who grapple with the same questions over and over again, unable to move forward? Maybe it’s time to take a critical look at some of the assumptions being made. Does everyone agree on basic terms and definitions? Take the time to state the obvious. What does “profit” mean? How do you define “member” in the context of your discussion? Are people using terms interchangeably when there are actually subtle differences?
If everyone is in agreement, this exercise won’t take much time at all. But if you do find that people had been operating under different assumptions, setting the record straight will bring a new level of clarity and direction to the discussion.