What's the most significant advance in the history of science?

[Aramazd]

But hunter-gatherer may be a good way to accomplish this.

No, it's not. Hunter-gatherers would not have access to most technology. The only way to produce technology you want would be manufacturing, so unless you can build a moving factory the hunter-gatherer lifestyle is doomed. And unless you plan to kill anyone who discovers agriculture and destroy those abomination called cities that some tribes form then civilization will reform again. Think about it in order to make a bike you need metals(mining, which doesn't work in most areas so people will need to settle down. People will also need to heat the metals and shape them into a bike frame, and wheels will need to made from rubber. Each person that works as a manufacturer can't find food, which will need to be brought to them. The best way to produce surplus food is agriculture. Civilization formed so people can use technology to make their life easier.

 

[tomsnowman123]

Totalitarianism and humans mistreating and destroying each other started long before 'civilization' did. A large number or very old, pre-civilization, human skeletons show signs of death by other human weapons. What was the life expectancy before civilization came along? What difference does if make if you die young due to disease or due to a spear? Modern people like us live longer and more free lives due to the benefits of civilization.



I love consumerism. Does that make me elitist? If freedom is good then isn't it my right to exercise my freedom and love consumerism if I choose to? Maybe you should drop by Vegas sometime, we can take my Escalade down to the strip and I'll show you how absolutely wonderful consumerism and decadence can be. Have you ever given it a fair try? Don't knock it until you've given it a go.

This isn't just my opinion either. The tourists flock here from around the world by the tens of millions for just such a taste of consumerism.



For whatever it's worth you just earned a point in my book. Just as I ask to be left to my lifestyle of choice you have every right to be left to yours. We don't all have to agree on all the issues in order to be able to agree to live together in peace.

Well, I believe a state of anarchy can give humans the highest amount of freedom. I also believe that back in hunter-gatherer times, there wasn't any organized violence, like thiere is nowadays.

You don't seem like an "elitist" to me, and not everyone is, I just think that consumerism helps breed that type of society. And I have given it a fair try, I bought plenty of things, spent money, and saw many major, flashy cities up until the end of my high school sophmore year when I began to become the person I am now.

I know I am in the minority, I usually am. And I am glad I earned a point, even if we can't agree on issues, I would rather live in peace then in conflict.

 

[tomsnowman123]

No, it's not. Hunter-gatherers would not have access to most technology. The only way to produce technology you want would be manufacturing, so unless you can build a moving factory the hunter-gatherer lifestyle is doomed. And unless you plan to kill anyone who discovers agriculture and destroy those abomination called cities that some tribes form then civilization will reform again. Think about it in order to make a bike you need metals(mining, which doesn't work in most areas so people will need to settle down. People will also need to heat the metals and shape them into a bike frame, and wheels will need to made from rubber. Each person that works as a manufacturer can't find food, which will need to be brought to them. The best way to produce surplus food is agriculture. Civilization formed so people can use technology to make their life easier.

Well, I realize I will probably never see the day where my ideas come to fruition, and I would never, ever kill for it. Secondly, things wouldn't need to be continually or mass-produced, things would be on a much smaller scale. It's easy to perhaps settle for a short period, gain necessary resources and produce the needed amount of items, which would be a very small amount, and then move on.

And if bicycles are too complex, there are other simple technologies/developements.

Since this hunter-gatherer will most likely never hapen in my day, I fully suport the use of computers, internet, photovoltaic arrays, wind and air turbines, and solar energy.

Edit: Re-reading your post, I believe there may be some miss-comunication. I just said living a hunter-gatherer society is a good way to connect with nature, not to gain more technology. Or am I now off?

 

[Raisin Bran]

I would have to go with the semi-conductor

Without it we would not be having this discussion, and we would not play CIV

 

[Pyrite]

"Every aetheist has ever met thinks everyone who isn't an aetheist is a moron. I have met and know lots and unless they know you personally thats how they feel about other religious beliefs."

Pretty much.

It isn't an invention, it's an advance. You know, replacing something archaic and useless with a new way of looking at the world.

 

[Tulkas12]

"Every aetheist has ever met thinks everyone who isn't an aetheist is a moron. I have met and know lots and unless they know you personally thats how they feel about other religious beliefs."

Pretty much.

It isn't an invention, it's an advance. You know, replacing something archaic and useless with a new way of looking at the world.

Hateful, arrogant, useless trolling. Grow up. Believe it or not, you can be an atheist and not hate everything. I know it can be hard though.

Can we leave religious invention and philosophies out of this thread or is that fair game? If thats the case I wan't to promote capitalism as the greatest invention. There that ought to incite some reaction.

 

[Pyrite]

"Hateful, arrogant, useless trolling. Grow up. Believe it or not, you can be an atheist and not hate everything. I know it can be hard though. "

No mention of hating everything was made. You simply stated that atheists are looking down on you because of your religious beliefs, I simply said, yes, I do.

"Can we leave religious invention and philosophies out of this thread or is that fair game? If thats the case I wan't to promote capitalism as the greatest invention. There that ought to incite some reaction."

..Unlike you, when people say things like "Capitalism" or "Religion" for greatest inventions, I can tell that they're just idiots messing around. I don't think many will care.

 

[tomsnowman123]

I don't think science brought about Capitalism, but I am sure there is somebody here who could link the two. And I think everyone knows my stance on Capitalism.

Please, I don't want to get this thread closed, it's been interesting so far.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

well if you consider economics a science i would guess you could, but i dont

 

[GenMarshall]

Why the internal combustion Engine. Without it we wont have diesel engines and diesel Locomotives

 

[nihilistic]

Calculus. Technically a mathematical rather than scientific advance, but meh.

 

[Perfection]

The Scientific Method, the realization of what actually brings out advances!

 

[Mr. Dictator]

The Scientific Method, the realization of what actually brings out advances!

you cant argue against logic guys

 

[Taliesin]

Screws. Or maybe the Newtonian synthesis.

 

[Birdjaguar]

The Scientific Method, the realization of what actually brings out advances!

Reasoned thinking has been part of human history since the beginning. It is in our genes and never really "discovered". Perf are you thinking about the "codification of investigative techniques"? Would that be a greek invention or Enlightenment discovery?

 

[Archbob]

Without doubt, it has to be writing.

No one invented fire. Lightning probably struck a tree or something.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

Without doubt, it has to be writing.

No one invented fire. Lightning probably struck a tree or something.

well then the harnessing of fire if you wanna get technical

i still stand by mydol though

seriously man couldnt survive if women didnt have that stuff

 

[Ramius75]

Fire, Agriculture, bronze working, printing press, electricity As the most important.

 

[aaglo]

I'd have to say: the development of mathematics (altough it's a long process, but it's sort of science. I think).

 

[Perfection]

Reasoned thinking has been part of human history since the beginning. It is in our genes and never really "discovered". Perf are you thinking about the "codification of investigative techniques"?

Yes, the discovery of what sort of reasoning yeilds results, and how we best go about determining the correctness of claims.

Would that be a greek invention or Enlightenment discovery?

I'd say mostly enlightenment, but certainly rooted in Greek philosophy (among others), and extended in more modern times.