What is the greatest invention in the history of mankind?

the search function

battle born wrote:

The wheel

This. Without the wheel, we could not have wheel cheese.

Printing press. Or spoken language.

underwear

inflation

The Cornballer.

tulips

the plow

stay dog freedom wrote:

Some lunatic wrote:

Agriculture

This is the reason for all the inventions that man has made and is the most important discovery, but I don't think it qualifies as an invention

How can you discover something that hitherto does not exist?

Anyway, language trumps agriculture no matter what category you wish to put agriculture in.

Another vote for the internet

Women.

Fishing poles

We would have never had the Burger King Whaler without it.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5211168990620522644

Phone. I'm still amazed I can find and talk to someone in real time anywhere in the world.

Vibrams

Penicillin

Even though I am allergic to it.

I'm not sure if this was listed yet, but I'd pick water or fire.

Plow and Printing press, electricity and the internet were all major game changers in human history, but Let's Run might be close.

Good argument for the computer; helped put man in the moon, saved tons of time, gave rise to the Internet. Automobile has to be up there too.

----- wrote:

but I'd pick water or fire.

Or fire water.