Tolkien and philosophy

[HerenIstarion]

Thanks to H-I for clearing those questions up for me. But still: what if the falling tree is an Ent who yells out as he falls (“who put that stone there?”)? Or, is the “cl” sound of the left hand clapping, while the right sounds like “ap”?

Easy.

Sound re:

Since the Ent is one to fall, and, at the same time, one who 'is around', he is able to hear himself falling, and therefore there is a sound. If it were not him who were falling, but merely a tree, than he would not be around, so no sound will be there.

Clapping re:

It dependes. Since 'clap' is an English word, and we do write it from left to right in English, it is to be assumed that 'cl' is the sound of left hand clapping, and 'ap' is to be associated with the right hand. The situation, however, would be reversed for those writing from right to left. People writing on a vertical axis would have a preference of having respective sound associated with whichever hand happens to be their upper one in a clapping process.

PS Outstanding post there, Fordim, kudos!