What are some of America's Greatest Contributions to the World?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around America's contributions to the world, with participants sharing various cultural, technological, and scientific achievements. The scope includes both positive acknowledgments and critical perspectives on these contributions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants highlight Rock'n'Roll music as a significant American contribution, while others argue it was derived from other cultures.
  • Several contributions are mentioned, including Spongebob Squarepants, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and putting humans on the moon.
  • There are mixed feelings about American fast food, with some expressing disdain for it.
  • Participants discuss the internet's origins, with differing views on crediting America for its creation.
  • Aviation and computers are noted as American contributions, but some participants caution against attributing these solely to America.
  • Other contributions mentioned include air conditioning, the transistor, and various inventions attributed to Thomas Edison.
  • There is a discussion about the role of individuals versus nations in contributions to knowledge and technology.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions, with some agreeing on certain contributions while others contest the credit given to America. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing views on the significance and origins of various contributions.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about the origins of cultural contributions are challenged, and there are unresolved debates about the extent of America's role in technological advancements.

  • #31
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
Townsend said:
Ok how about a powered, heavier-than-air machines able achieve controlled, sustained flight with a pilot aboard. Those are from America...
Of course. And what a giant leap that was.
As from computers...let me be more precise...electronic general-purpose computers started in America.
Personal Computers? Really just a matter of mass producing them rather than actually inventing something.
 
  • #33
Air Conditioning!
 
  • #34
Echo 6 Sierra said:
Air Conditioning!
I was waiting for someone to say that!
 
  • #35
The transistor was discovered at Bell Labs. How much more fundamental can you get?
 
  • #36
Ivan Seeking said:
The transistor was discovered at Bell Labs. How much more fundamental can you get?

Don't forget Unix
 
  • #37
Frooty Pebbles, Honeycombs, Super Sugar Crisps, Pop Rocks.
 
  • #38
dduardo said:
Don't forget Unix

or Windows...

...well, never mind.
 
  • #39
Hey, what about everything Edison invented? The telephone? Polio vaccine? Human Genome Project? A-Bomb - maybe better the Allies than the Axis?
 
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  • #40
Fiber Optics..Electric guitars.. bullet proof glass..artifical heart
 
  • #41
Hey, what about everything Edison invented? The telephone? Polio vaccine? Human Genome Project? A-Bomb - maybe better the Allies than the Axis?

For that matter India has a list of people which can possibly change your thinking about US.US is not all that great , The base of human knowledge was devised by Indians and West built upon it by contributions from thousands of men.

When something is invented/discovered, the credit does not go to the country , the credit goes to the individual who raised himself from the levels of religion/patriotism/callowness and used his mind for the help of humankind in general.

BJ
 
  • #42
Dr.Brain said:
For that matter India has a list of people which can possibly change your thinking about US.

Nope...

The base of human knowledge was devised by Indians and West built upon it by contributions from thousands of men.
I don't know...Couldn't we take it back a bit farther yet?

When something is invented/discovered, the credit does not go to the country , the credit goes to the individual who raised himself from the levels of religion/patriotism/callowness and used his mind for the help of humankind in general.

We don't live in a vacuum you know. The actions of one man have influences on another you know. You cannot attribute any invention to just one man. Why? No one could raise themselves from levels of religion/patriotism/callowness and use his mind without society there to support him or her.
 
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  • #43
I thought we were saying nice things about the US?

Hasn't the military produced a lot of technology that has found applications in other areas? Like that black makeup used in football. :biggrin:
 
  • #44
honestrosewater said:
I thought we were saying nice things about the US?

Hasn't the military produced a lot of technology that has found applications in other areas? Like that black makeup used in football. :biggrin:

GPS...
 
  • #45
Dr.Brain said:
For that matter India has a list of people which can possibly change your thinking about US.US is not all that great , The base of human knowledge was devised by Indians and West built upon it by contributions from thousands of men.

When something is invented/discovered, the credit does not go to the country , the credit goes to the individual who raised himself from the levels of religion/patriotism/callowness and used his mind for the help of humankind in general.
I was just thinking about that. The US hasn't contributed nearly as many 'inventions' to society as many western countries, however I think it's fair to say they're in the running for first with Innovations.
 
  • #46
Smurf said:
I was just thinking about that. The US hasn't contributed nearly as many 'inventions' to society as many western countries,
In the last 300 years? The US is relatively young, to be fair.
 
  • #47
Transistor. Integrated circuit. Microprocessor.
 
  • #48
Townsend said:
Nope...


I don't know...Couldn't we take it back a bit farther yet?



We don't live in a vacuum you know. The actions of one man have influences on another you know. You cannot attribute any invention to just one man. Why? No one could raise themselves from levels of religion/patriotism/callowness and use his mind without society there to support him or her.

India gave birth to Mathematics way before US was even discovered dear. :wink:

http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/Indian_mathematics.html
 
  • #49
Dr.Brain said:
India gave birth to Mathematics way before US was even discovered dear. :wink:

I know...I was talking about before then...like the Greeks perhaps...You know, Euclid and all..
 
  • #50
Dr.Brain said:
India gave birth to Mathematics way before US was even discovered dear. :wink:

http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/Indian_mathematics.html
But this thread is not about what India gave to the world. Seriously, you don't have to rain on our parade. You can start your own thread about how much better India is than the US. Not to be mean; It just seems like you're trying to pick a fight. :frown:
 
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  • #51
Grand Canyon is cool,
 
  • #52
honestrosewater said:
But this thread is not about what India gave to the world. Seriously, you don't have to rain on our parade. You can start your own thread about how much better India is than the US. Not to be mean; It just seems like you're trying to pick a fight. :frown:

Even I am surprised to know that I am not trying to pick up a fight.Carry on with the thread friends.Any thread in praise of any part of Earth is encouraged.

BJ
 
  • #53
Dr.Brain said:
Even I am surprised to know that I am not trying to pick up a fight.Carry on with the thread friends.Any thread in praise of any part of Earth is encouraged.

BJ
Heh, don't I feel like a royal jack***. :shy: Sorry. I don't suppose the peace sign started in the US? :biggrin:
 
  • #54
-- the zucker brothers
-- the coen brothers
-- black holes (courtesy of john wheeler)
-- the moore method
-- 1970 ford boss 429 mustangs
 
  • #55
What I value most about having grown up in the US, is that I generally felt that I had opportunities to get as much education as I wanted, and make whatever choices I wanted for myself and my future. I am sure this is the case in many countries, but I know that also in many countries it *isn't* the case, particularly for women.

And I think that I, and the community, both benefit from this opportunity.
 
  • #56
The US gave us, US people, ok they may be a bit cranky at times, but they
are worthy of serious study. :biggrin:
 
  • #57
-Soundgarden
-Pearl Jam

Woo, thanks guys.
 
  • #58
Dr.Brain said:
India gave birth to Mathematics way before US was even discovered dear. :wink:

http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/Indian_mathematics.html
Wow, really? That's funny, because I always thought the US was created, not discovered.
 
  • #59
Dr.Brain said:
For that matter India has a list of people which can possibly change your thinking about US.US is not all that great , The base of human knowledge was devised by Indians and West built upon it by contributions from thousands of men.

Well, we could reduce this all to the first hominid to draw a symbol in the dirt. So the credit for everything really goes to one hairy ape-guy with a stick. :rolleyes:
 
  • #60
Ivan Seeking said:
Well, we could reduce this all to the first hominid to draw a symbol in the dirt. So the credit for everything really goes to one hairy ape-guy with a stick. :rolleyes:
Yes but where was he FROM!? That's what really matters
 

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