30 replies to this topic

[Shahenshah]

What's the greatest invention of all time?

[Lysistrata]

Electricity was a discovery, not an invention. The internet has done the most for us, but the Printing Press is the greatest invention of all time, because that's where true equality took place. Anyone that can learn to read could know everything anyone could put in print. That was the turning point of all civilized advancement.

[King Cankles]

Porn. No contest.

[Lysistrata]

Porn. No contest.

LOL! and you would have none of that without the Printing Press!

[ccabal86]

I was tempted to say Electricity (while in itself a discovery, AC was an invention), but I have to go with language. Without it, we'd still be animals.

[Yehom]

I have to go with language. Without it, we'd still be animals.

Interesting, I would  say that animals can communicate perfectly fine between one and other. Even if the notion of 'language' wouldn't exist, I would argue that there would absolutely be another way of communication between humans 

[Fox Fire]

Tough call between language and the wheel. But specifically, written language is hands down the greatest invention ever. 

Interesting lecture about language if you can sit still for an hour: 

 

 

 

 

I have to go with language. Without it, we'd still be animals.

Interesting, I would  say that animals can communicate perfectly fine between one and other. Even if the notion of 'language' wouldn't exist, I would argue that there would absolutely be another way of communication between humans 

 

Not in nearly as much detail. 

[ccabal86]

I have to go with language. Without it, we'd still be animals.

Interesting, I would  say that animals can communicate perfectly fine between one and other. Even if the notion of 'language' wouldn't exist, I would argue that there would absolutely be another way of communication between humans 

I have to go with language. Without it, we'd still be animals.

Interesting, I would  say that animals can communicate perfectly fine between one and other. Even if the notion of 'language' wouldn't exist, I would argue that there would absolutely be another way of communication between humans 

While animals do communicate with eachother, their toolkit is extremely limited. They may be able to signal some basic tings, like aggression, receptiveness, mating call, etc, these are simply not enough to transmit complex ideas. In other words, they do not have the building blocks that can be rearranged in near-infinite combinations of meaning. This severely limits information transfer, little knowledge can be passed on between specimens, or generations, etc.

[Lysistrata]

If humans could not talk, they would have come up with another way to communicate. Sign language is an example. Also, language is only used by those that use it, and it's vastly limited to geographic area. I speak English... does that mean English is the greatest invention of all time? Spanish doesn't mean shit to me... or any other language for that matter. Someone could say the origin of life, and if there is no one there to hear it, it would be lost. If he writes it down, and sends it to a publisher... well then it's everywhere.

[Fox Fire]

If humans could not talk, they would have come up with another way to communicate. Sign language is an example. Also, language is only used by those that use it, and it's vastly limited to geographic area. I speak English... does that mean English is the greatest invention of all time? Spanish doesn't mean shit to me... or any other language for that matter. Someone could say the origin of life, and if there is no one there to hear it, it would be lost. If he writes it down, and sends it to a publisher... well then it's everywhere.

If humans couldn't talk, that would be impossible to imagine since our pre-human ancestors could talk and because of that, we have an instinctive nature to talk. 

As for the rest of your comment, do realize that all languages are related? Do you realize how new languages come into existence? English is Germanic thus related to German, etc, etc? If I see anyone in this forum who should watch the lecture I posted above, it's probably you. 

Spoken language has allowed us to pass on ideas to future generations. While written language has allowed us to pass on ideas to numerous, almost endless future generations. 

The words of Jesus, Muhammad and Moses can only be known via written language. Even though they were written in something other than English, they can still be known to us, who speak English. Because of written language, the greatest thing ever thought of. 

[King Cankles]

You guys are putting wayyyyy too much thought into this. It's simple.





Porn. That's it. That's all. There is nothing else.

[Lysistrata]

Like I said, I don't care about any language but my own... but if you're talking about the chicken and the egg thing, then language would be the chicken. But the question is "What's the greatest invention of all time", and in my opinion the Printing Press is the sole reason we were able to climb out of the dark ages and into the world we know today.

 

The internet is by far the greatest advancement, because it's taken the whole idea of the Printing Press into another realm of instantaneous information. I would have loved to have the internet when I was in school. Whenever I needed to know something, I had to look it up in textbooks and encyclopedias. If it wasn't there... I didn't get my answers. The internet has all the answers within seconds.

[ccabal86]

What would the printing press mean without language? The internet? Also, sign language is still a language...

Language (in general) is the very basic medium by which you convey complex information. Without it all the other gadgets are useless.

[Fox Fire]

What would the printing press mean without language? The internet? Also, sign language is still a language...

Language (in general) is the very basic medium by which you convey complex information. Without it all the other gadgets are useless.

Ding ding ding. 

[Shahenshah]

Language --> Wheel --> Printing Press --> ~~electricity~~ --> WWW ---> Yoga Pants.

 

Tho, the way babies grasp the language so quickly...I think there's more to it than someone just inventing language. I know it's not a discovery, you leave the baby alone, he'll never speak it. I think Humans kinda-evolved towards acquiring language. 

[Fox Fire]

Language --> Wheel --> Printing Press --> ~~electricity~~ --> WWW ---> Yoga Pants.

 

Tho, the way babies grasp the language so quickly...I think there's more to it than someone just inventing language. I know it's not a discovery, you leave the baby alone, he'll never speak it. I think Humans kinda-evolved towards acquiring language. 

Yes. Language is part our evolution and is instinctive. 

[ccabal86]

Well, yes...there was this twin couple who grew up in total isolatin, but they had eachother, and they invented their own language. So, it's not an invention in the sense as the others are.

[SeaBeeGipson]

The plow.
Fight me if you disagree

[ccabal86]

The plow.
Fight me if you disagree

I'd rather hear your reasoning

[SeaBeeGipson]

Plows (or ploughs for you UK people) has always been in my opinion the best invention.

Older ones didn't have a wheel (so the invention of a wheel wasn't necessary) and was dragged through the soil by oxen. It was one of the most important agricultural advancements in nomadic times that helped to allow humanity to settle. Of course settlements were already starting to form after nomads discovered Speeding, but the first evidence of a plough is found shortly after. Even before the Egyptian Empire existed. It brought nutrient rich soil to the top of the ground, even in areas that would've otherwise been unfarmable.

Also fun topic about plows (though impossible to prove): It is believed by historians that the plow was one of the first major female inventions; so it is commonly believed a female invented the plow.

I just like the plow.