Allegheny1600 Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Hi all, This topic came into my mind while conversing with the good lady a couple of weeks ago, then while writing my recent essay on "What might have been" it has occured to me again! Just what in your opinion (and why!) are the greatest things that mankind (the human race) has done? IMHO such a great achievement as MUSIC may well be the number one - it can change your mood from light to dark, scare you, make you feel great, stir the memory, rekindle love - it can stir up pretty much all the human emotions. But then, what about Art? Architecture? Dance? (does that come under art?) Sport? War? (War - whats he on about? - thats not a GREAT achievment! The killing and destruction, NO, never but what can come out of war? Many new inventions were due to war, you've only got to watch something like "What the Romans did for us" or read some history to prove that!) The Wheel? The Computer? The harnessing of Fire? (leading to steam!) There are many things that get me emotive, i just wondered what all you guys felt? Cheers, John E. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 The greatest achievement of man is becoming the most intelligent animal on the planet, and then rapidly becoming the most stupid Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Depends in what context you mean greatest acheivement. As animals in general our greatest is probably language, very few animals can teach each other like we can. As primates, it might be the ability to make fire. In a technical context, the moon landings or the printing press might be up there, but for me, its a social acheievement - the healthcare system, and in this country specifically the NHS. Think about it, no matter who you are, if you suddenly need help, someone comes along and saves your life for free (at point of use). This is an incredible and wonderful thing, a rare example of socially organised generosity and compassion. We take it for granted, but when you think about what actually happens, its truly remarkable. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Bernard Lamb Posted December 1, 2009 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 1, 2009 I thought that Woody Guthrie had written a song about it. Bernard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Fatadder Posted December 1, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 1, 2009 I think you hit the nail on the head with war... without it we wouldnt have had the need to move from flint spears to bronze and then iron swords, etc etc etc. So many of the great advances in medicine, technology, politics and more have either directly or indirectly come out of war. Without the need to find newer and more efficient ways of killing that tribe from the other side of the hill, we'd still be in the stone age... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
highpeak Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 I think you hit the nail on the head with war... without it we wouldnt have had the need to move from flint spears to bronze and then iron swords, etc etc etc. So many of the great advances in medicine, technology, politics and more have either directly or indirectly come out of war. Without the need to find newer and more efficient ways of killing that tribe from the other side of the hill, we'd still be in the stone age... If we follow the technology of mass destruction to its logical conclusion, we'll probably be back in the stone age. It's more the case that the military used existing technology and under the pressure of war used various resources to refine it perhaps faster than might otherwise have happened. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve K Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 If we follow the technology of mass destruction to its logical conclusion, we'll probably be back in the stone age. You may be right - wasn't it Einstein who, when asked about the weapons that would be used in the 3rd World War, replied that he didn't know, but he had a feeling that it would be sticks and stones in the 4th... All this talks of progress reminds me of Mitchell & Webb's "Bronze Orientation Day" sketch! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted December 1, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 1, 2009 In order, the greatest achievements are: The sliced loaf The zip The suspender belt - ladies only for the wearing of. [Hey, perhaps that's No 1?] Superglue Moist toilet tissue Kleenex Ok, that's it. Next thread, please. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Trainshed Terry Posted December 1, 2009 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 1, 2009 The greatest achievement of man is becoming the most intelligent animal on the planet, and then rapidly becoming the most stupid I have to disagree with you on that as we ( humans ) are only cave men who have to technology to stay alive. The big question is electricity a sustainable resource, as I feel it is not. :D Terry. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy C Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Beer. No contest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trog Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 I thought everyone already knew that mankinds greatest achivement was the railway locomotive steam engine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 I thought everyone already knew that mankinds greatest achivement was the railway locomotive steam engine. Beat me to it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudgeloco Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 In a word - Language. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr45144 Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 My first thought on seeing the title was ' despite our best efforts we're not extinct yet' Kev Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Bernard Lamb Posted December 2, 2009 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 2, 2009 In a word - Language. Mainstream scientific opinion is now coming round to the idea that other species share this ability with us. Bernard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted December 2, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 2, 2009 Man's greatest achievement (besides automatic spell checkers!) - the Thermos flask - it keeps hot things hot and cold things cold - but how does it know ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Western Stalwart Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Why, it's me of course. Modest me! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 As clever we (like to) think we are, I think God still has the edge on us, after all, he gave us Jenny Agutter, Joanna Lumley and Felicity Kendall . Nidge Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 009matt Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 As clever we (like to) think we are, I think God still has the edge on us, after all, he gave us Jenny Agutter, Joanna Lumley and Felicity Kendall . Nidge that is of course, if you think god exists. I much more strongly believe that it was all because of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, when we were touched by his noodly appendage. I was thinking that surely our greatest achievement is the fact that we are here and can (using good scientific evidence from dna and fossils) explain how we evolved to get here at the stage we are at today! Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewC Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 According to the ultimate resource on such things man is the third most intelligent species on the planet, behind mice and dolphins. Man's greatest achievement has been to finally realise that digital watches aren't a pretty cool idea. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve K Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 According to the ultimate resource on such things man is the third most intelligent species on the planet, behind mice and dolphins. Man's greatest achievement has been to finally realise that digital watches aren't a pretty cool idea. Hard to disagree with Douglas Adams, I reckon! On a slightly serious note, the greatest achievement of mankind has surely got to be written language. With this, we are able to know what people were doing and thinking hundreds, even thousands, of years ago, and all of us have instant access to the accumulated knowledge of mankind. We all take many sophisticated inventions for granted, and we take pride in man's achievements, but everything we see around us was invented by someone else, don't forget - without writing, we'd have to reinvent the Spinning Jenny every few years, if not the wheel! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewC Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 I think Steve has it bang on. The greatest achievment has to be the ability to pass on knowledge gained from one generation to the next, then build on that knowledge and pass it on again, and again. Written language is still the catalyst for that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 That he has (so far) not managed to return humanity to the Stone Age, or successfuly wipe out all life on this little speck in the Universe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted December 3, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 3, 2009 The coming together of chocolate and a Hob Nob. If you don't believe me open a packet and see how long before you stop dunking. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Max Stafford Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 Mankind's greatest achievement has been over the last 50 or so years, slowly coming to realise (possibly aided by being able to look at his home from outside - think the famous Apollo photos from December 1968) that being the head of this small, blue house is an enormous responsibility. There's a long way to go yet, but although I'm a CO2 sceptic, I do accept that we need to do a lot more to keep the house in good order. Looking after the planet's equatorial forests should be top priority followed by minimising water pollution and overfishing. Easier said than done I'm sure, but these are real and solvable problems and our efforts would be better spent here than on a half baked and largely fabricated scare (witness 'Angliagate'). Apart from that another admirable achievement in my book is 'hold-up' stockings...! Dave. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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