A polymath, or Renaissance man/woman, has extensive knowledge of a wide range of subjects and an assortment of skills. The term comes from Greek roots meaning “to learn”. Erudition was highly valued in classical Greece, Rome, and China, and the tradition of well-rounded scholarship persists in China. Becoming a polymath requires drive and the ability to acquire information and skills quickly. Some argue that it is a born trait.
A polymath is someone who has a very broad knowledge of a wide range of subjects. Unlike a generalist, who knows a little about many things, a polymath knows a lot about many things. You may also hear a polymath described as a Renaissance man (or woman) or homo universalis, a term used at the time of the Renaissance. Some notable polymaths of history include: Galileo, Copernicus, Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, Su Song, Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, Imhotep and Hildegard.
The term “polymath” comes from the Greek roots poly-, for “many”, and manthanein, “to learn”. A polymath, in other words, is someone who has learned a lot. People have been using this term since the 1600s, when the Renaissance in Europe triggered a retraining of interest in classical learning and society began to reward people with a skill set and a large knowledge base.
Polymaths are not only knowledgeable about a wide range of subjects; they also have an assortment of skills. For example, a polymath might be proficient on several musical instruments and might also be a talented visual artist. Polymaths also often have athletic prowess, in sports such as fencing, horse riding, and so on. History, law, science, literature, and a wide variety of subjects may all be within the purview of a polymath, and he or she may conduct independent research or experiment to learn more about the fields in which he or she is interested.
In classical Greece, Rome and China, erudition was highly valued. Members of the aristocracy worked very hard to have extensive knowledge of a range of subjects, using specialist tutors to educate them, and engaging in dialogue and information exchange with other members of educated society. The tradition of well-rounded scholarship has persisted in China to this day; in Europe it experienced a brief period of suppression during the Middle Ages, until the Renaissance, when culture returned to vogue.
Many experts start very young, and some people argue that the ability to become an all-rounder is a born trait, rather than an acquired one. To become a polymath, someone must have the drive to acquire information and the skills to do so quickly and efficiently. Some individuals don’t have the intellectual potential or the time to develop into true polymaths, and may be forced to settle for reputations as generalists; both math experts and generalists can be useful people to have around, as they are very similar to walking encyclopedias.
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