I would say the most important invention ever, (my opinion), was the printing press. Prior to it almost all knowledge was the sole property of the wealthy that could afford hand written books and time to learn and study. The printing press changed that.
Eventually people no longer needed to travel to the town square to hear the news of the day, week month or in some cases the year. Good in one respect, bad in that people no longer had any one with differing views to discuss the news with.
As with all inventions, there are good and bad issues. All invention have adverse effects, whether if be societal, economical, or natural. Inventions change things, this keeps life interesting, chaotic.
It is in chaos that we know we are alive, that we are not just standing still with no where to go in a well ordered society, or well mannered natural environment. We need the dog-eat-dog world of nature,
With the printing press people were finally able offer up their own thoughts to other people. No printing press, no "Mein Kampf", no WW2, no model T, no "Bugatti Chiron". It was the printing press that made most other inventions possible.
I wonder if it's possible to narrow down the one single most valuable invention in the world...I don't mean ten pivotal inventions, just one. I'd not want that job. I'd have to say that the printing press would be a contender. I mean, if we strip away all the inventions that we can do without...The car, internet end so on...Would the printing press be the one? (I say, do without as we can live without cars and internet etc*. ) Hmm, I wonder.
The wheel, the printing press...What would it be?
Of course the world can't, or won't, live without all it's inventions...Although, it's doing a pretty good job rendering the printing press redundant.
Thanks for this cool response mate, it's much appreciated.
!ENGAGE 15
The wheel may be more important not sure, they both have had a very big big impact,
I agree...It's mindboggling to think of a world without either.
The fact that it's redundant now shouldn't take an iota away from it's total impact. That would be like taking edged weapons out of warfare because the guns are better. Entire outcomes would have been different.
In that competition? I go to steel. The most important thing we humans did in our history. Not the best maybe, but so much of our history rests on it...
Redundancy shouldn't mean irrelevancy...But we live in a world/society where what we have never seems good enough...Everyone lamenting what they have and wishing for something better...When what we have may be the best it ever gets. Ok, advances in technology aside.
You're right too...So many things we don't seem to value now had massive impacts upon human beings. Well said.
ENGAGEtokens.The printing press was definitely crucial for humanity and for knowledge in general. The books and literacy that came with it was not reserved just for the people with money and power any longer. Anyone could have it!
It opened a lot of new worlds for people, it took a little while, but eventually the people had access to reserved knowledge.
The printing press made it possible for knowledge (Knowledge) to be passed among ordinary mortals. Prior to that knowledge was the private property of the Church or the most wealthy of people. It added an entire dimension to the 'common' man.
Very interesting!!! The printing press was an excellent invention that gave many contributions, it marked a before and after. I agree with your vision of chaos, it's very necessary for transformations and evolution.
Blessings ✨