From the sound of wind blowing to the murmur of random conversations, sound is such a constant part of life that we often take it for granted. My fascination with sound began when I discovered, while writing an essay, that microbes perceive sound as a mechanical wave. Through a process called mechano-transduction, they absorb sound and respond with chemical releases. This intriguing fact sparked my interest in the philosophy of sound.
"sound is such a constant part of life that we often take it for granted"
For Clara and Carolina, the inspiration came from a captivating episode of the Emergence Magazine Podcast titled “When the Earth Started to Sing” by David G. Haskell, which brought listeners on a journey through the sounds of Earth before the existence of animals. This exploration of how the evolution of species shaped the planet's acoustic landscape highlighted the profound role of omnipresent sound in human experience.
Exploring the Concept of Sound
In episode 67 of Neuroverse, “The Philosophy of Sound”, Clara and Carolina explored fundamental questions including: What really is sound? How do we define it? Does sound exist without being perceived? Is sound a subject or an object of experience? They discussed these questions through the lens of three main philosophical theories:
Medial Theories: These classical theories, supported by philosophers like Galileo and Descartes, posit that sound requires a medium to travel between the source and the listener. Galileo believed sound occurs when the air is disturbed, moving the cartilages of the tympanum in our ears. Descartes suggested that what we hear are movements emanating from objects, not the objects themselves. Hence, sound is mediated by the air or another medium.
Proximal Theories: Proximal theories state that sounds are sensations localized to where the listener is. This theory emphasizes that sound is defined by the listener's perception, not by its origin. For instance, if a motorbike makes a sound, what matters is the listener's experience, which can vary with distance and context.
Distal Theories: Distal theories argue that sounds are properties of material objects, akin to colours or shapes. Sounds, according to this theory, are inherent properties of objects that are revealed through interactions with the surrounding environment.
Sound as Energy and Perception
Drawing from neuroscience of audio perception, sound travels as waves and is transformed into physical vibrations in our ears, which then lead to neuronal activity and ultimately perception. This process highlights the continuous transfer of energy, from the initial sound source to the final auditory experience.
The conversation throughout the episode explores where sounds begin and end, bringing into question whether sound can be considered an individual entity. They compare this to their previous discussions on individuality, noting that sounds, like individuals, might exist on a spectrum rather than as discrete entities.
"sounds, like individuals, might exist on a spectrum rather than as discrete entities."
Silence, White Noise, and Hallucinations
A fascinating segment of the discussion addresses the nature of silence and whether it truly exists. It is highlighted that what we consider silence is merely a lack of obvious sound, as even in silence there are underlying noises like white noise. This leads to a deeper exploration of whether sound is always present, revealed through changes and interactions with the environment.
The duo also discuss the concept of internal monologues and hallucinations, questioning whether these internally generated auditory experiences count as sound. They ponder whether a person without prior exposure to sound could experience audio hallucinations, on the basis that hallucinations are a result of neural activity mimicking sensory stimuli without any external input.
Comparing Sound and Colour
Clara and Carolina draw parallels between the philosophy of sound and the philosophy of colour, which they have discussed in several previous episodes including episodes 51. “Reality” and 10. “Materialism and Dualism”. Both sound and colour are perceived through specific biological substrates, and their perception is subjective, based on the organism's sensory capabilities. However, sound is integrally temporal, defined by its presence across time, which contrasts with our spatial experience of colour. Nonetheless, sound and colour have many similarities and represent good parallel approaches to tackle the philosophy of perception.
Conclusion
The episode concludes with the agreement that sound, like other perceptual phenomena, is heavily influenced by the perceiver. As human beings having human experiences from our human body, we are inherently limited in defining sound, and any definition must account for the subjective nature of auditory experiences. This discussion was rich in both philosophical inquiries and neuroscientific insights, inviting listeners to reflect on their own perceptions and the nature of reality itself. To dive deeper into these concepts, be sure to check out the episode, along with the inspiring episode by Emergence Magazine Podcast that sparked this exploration.
For more fascinating discussions, follow Neuroverse on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts, and give us a follow on Instagram and Twitter at @neuroverse_pod to keep up to date with us!
This article was written by Shivali Verma and edited by Clara Lenherr
Shivali Verma is a Master’s student in Brain and Mind Sciences at UCL. She is most interested in researching neurodegeneration, and is passionate about bridging the gap between scientific complexity and everyday understanding.
Comentários