Perceptions and Absolutes

-"Sound waves--molecules of air vibrating at various frequencies--do not themselves have pitch. Their motion and oscillations can be measured, but it takes a human (or animal) brain to map them to that internal quality we call pitch."
-Daniel J. Levitin

This quotation sparked a heated, yet unusually deep, discussion between my roommate and I. I was attempting to define sound in terms of a three stage process which the quotation implies:

The initiator-------The medium of travel---------The receiver

Without anyone one of these components sound cannot exist.

1. A guitar sits quietly in the corner without an initiator, yet a pitiful character is sitting close by in anticipation.

- -------adequate medium-----------adequate receiver

Result: No sound

2. A guitar is played in space by an alien who does not have to breath and another pitiful alien is waiting to be entertained (also does not have to breath).

Adequate initiator----------- ----------Adequate receiver

Result: No sound

3. In an uninhabited forest a possessed wild guitar begins to play Born to be Wild

Adequate initiator-------Adequate Medium------ --

Result (scientifically speaking): No sound

This last point did not make sense to my roommate. He claimed "sound is sound, whether you hear it or not it still exists. You can not deny its existence."

Well, something definitely exists, for example, as in the third scenario above; however, what exactly is this something? If it does fit under the classification of sound then what is it?

This answer is in the quotation:

"Sound waves--molecules of air vibrating at various frequencies."

The conversation from this point on got incredibly complex. We attempted to distinguish sound waves from sound. Inevitably we came down to an argument between absolutes and perceptions.

Can something intrinsic exist without the perception of the mind, or does something exist only through the minds perception?

We concluded there are definite absolutes in terms of the physical properties of sound and other sensory waves; However, every absolute property is perceived differently by each individual. Do to a complex set of factors including learned behaviors, synaptic associations, and instinctive programing, every individual will see the same thing differently.

The Balinese Gamelan features many pairs of instruments: one slightly larger than the other. These pairs are tuned purposely slightly out of tune because the Balinese enjoy the shimmering effect. In Western culture intonation discrepancies are frowned down upon. Obviously, in terms of perception, there cannot be any absolutes. Each mind is unique.