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The definition of “polymath”
The definition of “polymath” is a subject of debate.
The term has its roots in Ancient Greek and was first used in the early 17th Century to mean a person with “many learnings,” but there is no easy way to decide how advanced those learnings must be and how many disciplines.
Most researchers argue that to be a true polymath, you need some kind of formal acclaim in at least two apparently unrelated domains.
Nurture your inner polymathPolymathic
Nurture your inner polymath
Polymathic abilities may be within the reach of more people than we had once assumed.
And even if you don’t reach the heights of someone like Leonardo da Vinci, you will still find some benefits from widening your interests, rather than relentlessly pursuing a narrow specialism.
Many of society’s most pressing challenges – climate change – require highly creative problem-solving that crosses multiple domains, and polymaths may be the best people to find those solutions.
Many people associate polymathy with the historical Renaissance men, but it is more relevant today than it’s ever been.
Polymaths are often self-reliant
Polymaths are often self-reliant – happy to teach themselves – and individualist; they are driven by a great desire for personal fulfillment.
These qualities are also combined with a more holistic view of the world. The polymath not only moves between different spheres or different fields and disciplines but seeks fundamental connections between those fields so as to give them a unique insight into each of them.
Switching subjectsIf you feel
Switching subjects
If you feel tempted to live a more polymathic life, you can use your time more efficiently to make space for multiple interests.
When concentrating on any complex endeavor, the brain often reaches a kind of saturation point, after which your attention may fade, and any extra effort may fail to pay off.
But if you turn to another unrelated activity, you may find that you are better able to apply yourself. Shifting between different kinds of tasks can therefore boost your overall productivity.
Like any personality trait,
Like any personality trait, these qualities will all have a certain genetic basis, but they will also be shaped by our environment.
Many children are fascinated by many different areas – but our schools, universities, and then employment tend to push us towards ever greater specialization.
So many more people may have the capacity to be polymaths, if only they are encouraged in the right way.
Studies of students in
Studies of students in many different disciplines have shown that, after a certain amount of practice or study, we stop learning so efficiently.
We can make better use of our time if we regularly switch between skills or subjects.
Wannabe polymaths can use this to their advantage by alternating between their interests – ensuring that they are using their brains at maximum efficiency in each domain while avoiding wasted effort after they have reached that cognitive saturation point.
The power of cross-pollination
The power of cross-pollination
There are some reasons why we might be hesitant to pursue multiple interests.
One is the fear that we might spread ourselves too thinly if we devote ourselves to more than one avocation. With divided attention, we would fail to achieve success in any domain.
But in reality, developing diverse disciplines can fuel creativity and productivity. So while the pursuit of a second or third interest may seem like a distraction, it can actually boost your success in your primary field.
Polymathy is the optimal
Polymathy is the optimal path to creativity because it requires you to be diverse in your experience and your learning.
This is evident in the talents of Leonardo da Vinci – whose knowledge of anatomy, mathematics, and geometry improved the precision of his paintings, and whose visual imagination fuelled his creativity in mechanical engineering.
