Subjective realism puts a lot of stock in the eye (and ear) of the beholder. Philosopher George Berkeley would say that to be is to be perceived. So here be a fallen tree. You know the rest -- if no one was around to hear it, did it make a sound? Well sure, science tells us a sound is hearable noise whether or not anyone hears it, right? Surprisingly, Scientific American says a sound is vibration transmitted to our senses, and if no senses sense it, there is no sound. Einstein would say what we have here is an infallible conjecture - can't be proven or disproven. Hmmm... OK, whatever... sound or no sound, we like John Locke's distinction between secondary and primary qualities -- a red thing is not really red, a sound does not actually sound like anything, but a round object... is Round.

11.09.21