What is the greatest invention of all time?

David · Dec 19, 2011

Fascist Canuck said:
Romans, still around in the form of Italians. The Carthaginians, crushed by the Romans. The Mughals, no one cares. Need I go on?

No, the Romans are gone, the Italians are a mix of Latin and German. Hardly, it was the other way around but Romans being the manipulative geniuses they were were able to lose and still get the Carthaginians to surrender.

Translation: I'e never heard of them so I'm going to offer a generic disagreement. Please don't, I need to breath between laughs.

crazyhorse · Dec 23, 2011

The greatest invention of all times was the Wheel.

Carpediem · Jan 4, 2012

A sarcastic answer=====the hygienic paper.....

DodgeFB · Jan 4, 2012

There is much to be said for the flush toilet too.

Fascist Canuck · Jan 4, 2012

DodgeFB said:
There is much to be said for the flush toilet too.

All the better to flush your ass down.

DodgeFB · Jan 4, 2012

Fascist Canuck said:
All the better to flush your ass down.

Too much ass for that!

afghan · Jan 5, 2012

The greatest inventions is Language!!!

if there wasn''t a language so no one can transformed their knowledge and experience to their fellow human beings and the phases of development can be stopped...

for example radio was invented later on due to radio tv, telephone and other things got invented"; now if there wasn't any language how can they transformed their knowledge and this invention to be improved!

DodgeFB · Jan 5, 2012

afghan said:
The greatest inventions is Language!!!

if there wasn''t a language so no one can transformed their knowledge and experience to their fellow human beings and the phases of development can be stopped...

for example radio was invented later on due to radio tv, telephone and other things got invented"; now if there wasn't any language how can they transformed their knowledge and this invention to be improved!

I may disagree on the language thing. People running their damn mouth causes many bad things to happen.

myp · Jan 5, 2012

Language is an interesting one. We don't quite know if many invented it or if it is innate yet.

RoccoR · Jan 8, 2012

et al,

I like the idea of the "wheel" and "language." But I'm not so sure that it is correct.

myp said:
Language is an interesting one. We don't quite know if many invented it or if it is innate yet.

(OPINION)

The importance of very early inventions, are that the were essential to the survival of the species. Before the wheel, and probably before language, it was something simple, like the knife or spear that allowed man to survive. Without the knife (sharp edge instrument), clothing from animals would have been difficult.

There is no question that the invention of the wheel, language and arithmetic were key developments in the evolution of man. But the "greatest invention of all time" is something less dramatic and still with us today, after more than a million years. It would have been essential and come before fire maintenance. Either the stone-knife or the stone-hammer; then the spear.

Most Respectfully,
R

David · Jan 8, 2012

RoccoR said:
et al,

I like the idea of the "wheel" and "language." But I'm not so sure that it is correct.

(OPINION)

The importance of very early inventions, are that the were essential to the survival of the species. Before the wheel, and probably before language, it was something simple, like the knife or spear that allowed man to survive. Without the knife (sharp edge instrument), clothing from animals would have been difficult.

There is no question that the invention of the wheel, language and arithmetic were key developments in the evolution of man. But the "greatest invention of all time" is something less dramatic and still with us today, after more than a million years. It would have been essential and come before fire maintenance. Either the stone-knife or the stone-hammer; then the spear.

Most Respectfully,
R

Fire, it let us cook food, forge metal provide warmth and worded predators in the days were still pray. Without it H. Eerectus would of never evolved into H. Sapien.

myp · Jan 8, 2012

David said:
Fire, it let us cook food, forge metal provide warmth and worded predators in the days were still pray. Without it H. Eerectus would of never evolved into H. Sapien.

If fire can be considered an "invention" of man.

David · Jan 8, 2012

myp said:
If fire can be considered an "invention" of man.

What 'invention' isn't a natural process or combination thereof that we've harnessed?

myp · Jan 8, 2012

David said:
What 'invention' isn't a natural process or combination thereof that we've harnessed?

Fire exists without humans too. We merely figured out how to make it on command (which arguably is or is not an invention I guess). Would you consider "ice" to be an invention?

RoccoR · Jan 9, 2012

David, et al,

Yes, fire comes in periods.

How man first uses fire. (Fire Recognition and Utilization)
How man first keeps fire. (Fire Maintenance and Safekeeping)
How man first learns to start a fire. (Fire Mechanics)

David said:
Fire, it let us cook food, forge metal provide warmth and worded predators in the days were still pray. Without it H. Eerectus would of never evolved into H. Sapien.

(COMMENT)

Yes, it was a very key step in the evolutionary process. But It came after tools. Touches, lanterns, and fire pots first used to trap and contain a fire were made using these simple tools.

Most Respectfully,
R

eunice · Jul 10, 2012

myp said:
this is along the lines of my other thread, but what do you feel is the greatest invention of all time? I am still thinking this one over too, but the printing press is definitely up there as is the alphabet/language.

computer!!! :d

Road Warrior · Aug 10, 2012

Writing/Literacy. Being able to jot down knowledge and pass it around for others to learn is what set us on the path to civilization.

Like James Burke's "Connections", however, just one invention didn't do this. Developing irrigation allowed reliable crop development. Engineering allowed developing fortifications and silos for storing grain.

As anyone who as played Sid Meier's "Civilization" knows, different inventions allow us to develop in different ways. It was a combination of inventions that brought us to where we are today.

David · Aug 10, 2012

Road Warrior said:
Writing/Literacy. Being able to jot down knowledge and pass it around for others to learn is what set us on the path to civilization.

Like James Burke's "Connections", however, just one invention didn't do this. Developing irrigation allowed reliable crop development. Engineering allowed developing fortifications and silos for storing grain.

As anyone who as played Sid Meier's "Civilization" knows, different inventions allow us to develop in different ways. It was a combination of inventions that brought us to where we are today.

This forum is filling up with Civ fans. lol

myp · Aug 10, 2012

David said:
This forum is filling up with Civ fans. lol

We need a forum-wide civ match haha.

Road Warrior · Aug 10, 2012

David said:
This forum is filling up with Civ fans. lol

Still one of my favorite games.

What is the greatest invention of all time?

Similar threads