X-Message-Number: 18019
Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2001 04:24:51 -0800
From: Kennita Watson <>
Subject: Schrodinger's Tree

My input from the peanut gallery in the philosophy arena:

"If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear 
it, does it make a sound?"

Actually, if there's no one there to hear it, it makes 
all possible sounds.  When there is someone there, the
wave function of all possible sounds collapses into the
single sound or combination of sounds (or none) 
perceived by the perceiver(s).

Of course, that depends on where "there" is.  By the 
Many Worlds Interpretation, the tree makes all
possible sounds independent of who or what is listening
or from where:  "Pick a universe, any universe!"

Mind you, all this depends upon the time-binding of the
concept "sound", insofar as a sound can neither be made 
nor be perceived instantaneously (pitch is defined by 
frequency, which presupposes time).

So, the answer to that question is:  "Yes, No, Yes or No, 
Yes and No, or It Depends, depending on your point or 
points of view.". :-)
-- 
May you live long and prosper,
Kennita
--
Kennita Watson          | Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
     |   None but ourselves can free our minds.
http://www.kennita.com  |           -- Bob Marley, "Redemption Song"

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