Greatest discovery in human history?

[SeeIn2D]

So I was thinking about what I think the greatest discovery in human history is. Really random but there are so many things that I might consider the greatest discovery in human history. I think currently the greatest discovery is the invention of the printing press. This sparked the spread of ideas on a mass scale, which was true before with oral histories, but now independent people could get there ideas out into the world which was generally a privilege reserved exclusively to the Church up until that point.

I think in terms of hypothetical discoveries, the discovery of cold fusion and perpetual energy would be the greatest hypothetical discoveries in human history. Cold fusion would provide nearly by-productless energy and perpetual energy would provide a way to maintain it infinitely. These two things would give way to countless other discoveries that would impact human kind immensely.

 

[Imthatguy]

Matts probably right but the semi-conductor may pass it in usefulness soon.

 

[gritch]

Agriculture. The moment someone found out placing a seed in the ground would cause a plant to grow everything changed. Without it large groups on people - towns, cities, nations, whole civilizations were only possible because agriculture provided a stable source of food.

 

[Eddie the head]

Agriculture it allowed for stocks of food to be maintained freeing up time for humans to do other things. Like invent the induction motor. It's one of those simple things that no one thinks about. But yeah maintaining food supply so you don't have to spend your whole life looking for food is pretty important.

Agriculture. The moment someone found out placing a seed in the ground would cause a plant to grow everything changed. Without it large groups on people - towns, cities, nations, whole civilizations were only possible because agriculture provided a stable source of food.

DAMN YOU. Like a minute before me.

 

[Muspelheim]

As have been said before; agriculture. As a very worthy runner-up, I'd like to nominate litteracy. Think of it. Using symbols and letters to pass on information, it's such a fantastic invention in its simplicity.

If a village elder who holds the whole community's knowledge of herbs and healthcare and whatnot dies before it can be passed on to another member, it's a stepback to say the least. But if it's written down and preserved, the information will not be as easily lost. It's marvellous, really.

Third; hygiene. Possibly billions of lives saved, all for the cost of washing your hands, your tools and your patients.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

The recording of knowledge.

It doesn't matter if you invent something, if you're the only person who knows about.

Having the ability to record our knowledge and pass it on to future generations is a great thing, possibly the greatest of things.

 

[Muspelheim]

As have been said before; agriculture. As a very worthy runner-up, I'd like to nominate litteracy.

Would you like to nominate it as a runner-up? Would you really? =P

Well, in my defence... My second language skills tend to go flyin' out the window at this hour. >.>

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(Given an hour or so more)

 

[Womplord]

Electricity? That definitely put us in a new age. What about mathematics? If you could consider that a discovery rather than an invention. I think speech and literature are inventions rather than discoveries, so I can't include that. Most of this thread seems to list inventions rather than discoveries, like agriculture. There's definitely a distinction there.

 

[Kolby Jack]

America!

>_>

<_<

Yea, I said it! Come at me, BRO!

 

[aba1]

Agriculture it allowed for stocks of food to be maintained freeing up time for humans to do other things. Like invent the induction motor. It's one of those simple things that no one thinks about. But yeah maintaining food supply so you don't have to spend your whole life looking for food is pretty important.

Agriculture. The moment someone found out placing a seed in the ground would cause a plant to grow everything changed. Without it large groups on people - towns, cities, nations, whole civilizations were only possible because agriculture provided a stable source of food.

DAMN YOU. Like a minute before me.

I would say between this or the use of tools but that may not be considered human history since it would be a ancestor.

 

[Vegosiux]

Most of this thread seems to list inventions rather than discoveries, like agriculture. There's definitely a distinction there.

A distinction I see many people fail to make, no less. To clarify: Invention = something that wasn't there before, like agriculture or wheel. Discovery = something that was there before, but we didn't know about, like electromagnetism or black holes. However, I'd in a slightly pretentious way say that mathematics is an invention too, because in a way, it's a language we use to help us understand the natrual phenomena through practical science.

So, for the most important discovery in human history, I'd say I have a hard time deciding, but electromagnetism seems to be ranking quite high, then again, most of the stuff we discovered about our own bodies that enable us to live longer and better today is a strong contender too. That microbes cause diseases, and not evil spirits. That sudden sharp pains in your stomach mean you need to get checked in case your appendix ruptured.

Of course, medicide, like all science needed both discovery and invention to get where it is today.

 

[Tiger Sora]

That the universe didn't revolve around the earth, and that we weren't flat. On pure scale it was huge. Changed science to.

 

[TIMESWORDSMAN]

For actual Discoveries? I'd say agriculture, if only because without it, we would either still be scrounging around in bushes for berries and chasing giant mammals across plains.

In terms of inventions, which are different from discoveries, thou certainly linked to them, I would say it was either the personal computer, or Philosophy.

 

[Ruedyn]

The wheel hasn't been mentioned yet? Really? Here I thought we were professional smart asses.

 

[CommanderL]

The wheel hasn't been mentioned yet? Really? Here I thought we were professional smart asses.

The wheel is the greatest Invention in human history after fire and daystar clarion

But I would say books and the written word

 

[Gabanuka]

America!

>_>

<_<

Yea, I said it! Come at me, BRO!

OT: Writing, everything else said wouldn't exist without it bitches!

 

[Elate]

Language. Yep, communication is pretty damn important.

 

[lRookiel]

Toilet paper.

I know we would all be fucked without it.