KChan she/her Posted April 27, 2013 Posted April 27, 2013 Alright, how about this? We limit it to tangible objects: so instead of electricity, I would have to think of an important object that is powered by electricity. Any thoughts of temporarily limiting it to a certain era, just to make things more interesting?
Lady_Yasha she/her Posted April 28, 2013 Posted April 28, 2013 (edited) Religion anybody? It can be either the greatest or the worst, dependin gon the viewpoint, but I'm putting it out here for consideration, even if my terminology is poor and likely to get me quasi-flamed. Considering that it hasn't advanced over the thousands of years engineering, science, and literature has, then no. I'm not saying it's a bad thing to have, but human imagination - being what faith is - has been put to more practical uses. Without language there could be no organised religion and no civilization to speak of. Ideally, to consider what the greatest invention is you could contemplate its reliance on other inventions. Civilization was a great invention, but it didn't come without language and engineering (particularly agriculture and metal working). Everything is invented by human imagination so that practicality becomes important. We could live without religion, but we'd not be the civilized society we are today without many other things, particularly the ability to communicate in an articulate and clear manner. KChan: If you're looking at the Industrial era then I have to throw in the steam engine as the greatest invention of its time, bar the printing press. And perhaps the electric motor/generator. In the era before that, Galileo's telescope. Edited April 28, 2013 by Lyrebon 2
Observer Posted April 28, 2013 Posted April 28, 2013 Without language there could be no organised religion and no civilization to speak of. Ideally, to consider what the greatest invention is you could contemplate its reliance on other inventions. Civilization was a great invention, but it didn't come without language and engineering (particularly agriculture and metal working). Everything is invented by human imagination so that practicality becomes important. We could live without religion, but we'd not be the civilized society we are today without many other things, particularly the ability to communicate in an articulate and clear manner. This is exactly what I was talking about a few posts back. We have to limit what can be said in some way, so people can't just mention one of the first inventions, and then say that no other invention could have been made without it. There needs to be a limit on how far down the line we look as far as "It lead to this which lead to this which lead to this" is concerned.
Voidus Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 (edited) The best invention is clearly hoverboard-lightsaber-portal-gun-fight. Edited April 29, 2013 by Voidus
Brendan Posted May 1, 2013 Posted May 1, 2013 Soap... Without hygiene many of humanities inventors wouldn't have lived to invent...
Observer Posted May 4, 2013 Posted May 4, 2013 Well, totally ignoring the amazing amount of crap it allowed to happen, the invention of ways to hold and transport water was still a pretty huge one.
Nepene he/him Posted May 4, 2013 Posted May 4, 2013 (edited) The most important scientific invention that I can think of is a multi sailed boat. It allowed europe to colonize the world, (accidentally) caused the death of millions of native americans, and paved the way for the industrial revolution. Behind that, I'd probably say astronomy. Equally important for navigation, it allowed people to precisely get to any place in the world. Germ theory is pretty important too. The people in Stormlight have a serious advantage being able to see sickness sprens. Edit. On religion, I wouldn't blanket call it a great invention. Hinduism and buddhism, major world religions, for much of their history were suppressed by Islam after being conquered by it. Some religions had much less of a worldwide affect than others, some more. Shamanism was especially effective under Genghis Khan. His tolerance of alternate religions allowed him to easily rule a great deal of the world say. Edited May 4, 2013 by Nepene
Voidus Posted May 7, 2013 Posted May 7, 2013 Hmm actually might revise to either agriculture or possibly pottery, both some of the earliest advances but really useful if you didn't want to starve to death every winter.
Phantom Monstrosity Posted May 7, 2013 Posted May 7, 2013 (edited) Invention is the greatest invention; if nobody invented inventing inventors' inventions wouldn't be invented. Edited May 7, 2013 by Phantom Monstrosity
Observer Posted May 7, 2013 Posted May 7, 2013 Don't be rediculous. The rutabaga is clearly superior.
Lady_Yasha she/her Posted May 10, 2013 Posted May 10, 2013 Let us end this discussion; you all know what is truly the greatest invention ever. Me. You know it in your hearts to be true. 1
Straff Venture he/him Posted May 15, 2013 Posted May 15, 2013 Let us end this discussion; you all know what is truly the greatest invention ever. Me. You know it in your hearts to be true. thats questionable. And my answer would be the book - whoever thought you could get so much stuff into one place?
Observer Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 Should I counter by using Alcatraz's "Questions" speech? 1
Shardlet he/him Posted June 7, 2013 Posted June 7, 2013 ICe CreaM!!! Although, Shivertongue would say ice cream was only invented as an enhancement for waffles . 1
blackmagic3 he/him Posted June 17, 2013 Posted June 17, 2013 I am surprised no one has mentioned alcohol or bacon, but the true greatest invention was the ability to think.
Lady_Yasha she/her Posted July 3, 2013 Posted July 3, 2013 I am surprised no one has mentioned alcohol or bacon, but the true greatest invention was the ability to think. Intelligence is as superficial as the existential mind. It has no physical reality, only a concept; a concept that allowed creativity but is itself not created.
Shardlet he/him Posted January 9, 2014 Posted January 9, 2014 (edited) Qdoba Mexican Grill. Loving me those burritos! Edited January 9, 2014 by Shardlet
Edgedancer he/him Posted January 10, 2014 Posted January 10, 2014 Cant pick. Agriculture or language. Without Agriculture humanity as we know it woudn`t have enough food. Without language we never would have been able to band together as a civilized society and even more important Brandon never coud have startet to write, so my vote goes to language.
Gamma Fiend he/him Posted January 10, 2014 Posted January 10, 2014 Nobody agrees with Donnie Darko?The combustible engine, of course.
Shardbearer he/him Posted January 10, 2014 Posted January 10, 2014 Qdoba Mexican Grill. Loving me those burritos! My wife would agree with you. Now, can you send some over to the Tri Cities since we don't have one here? Maybe I'll drive to Ritzville and meet you halfway?
Shardlet he/him Posted January 10, 2014 Posted January 10, 2014 My wife would agree with you. Now, can you send some over to the Tri Cities since we don't have one here? Maybe I'll drive to Ritzville and meet you halfway? I'm closer than you are to Qdoba, but I'm still 45 min. away. It is a rare treat for me. I'm surprised that Tri-cities doesn't have one. Try Ellensburg if you want to meet halfway, Moses Lake at least.
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