What is considered a polymath?

A polymath is a person who knows a lot about a lot of subjects. When a person’s knowledge covers many different areas, he or she is a polymath. The Greek word for it is polymathes, “having learned much,” with poly meaning “much,” and manthanein meaning “learn.”

Do polymaths still exist?

Polymaths have existed forever — indeed they are often the ones who’ve advanced Western civilization more than any others — but they’ve been called different things throughout history. Being a polymath instead of a specialist is an advantage, not a weakness.

How common are polymaths?

Polymaths are rare and require a probing intelligence, unquenchable curiosity and inventive imagination. They have broad range of expertise in many areas that contributes to higher levels of mastery and enlightenment in their work.

What is a Polypath?

A polymath (Greek: πολυμαθής, polymathēs, “having learned much”; Latin: homo universalis, “universal person”) is an individual whose knowledge spans a substantial number of subjects, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems. …

Are Polymaths rare?

The world needs polymaths, but they’re ultimately quite rare. From the time we enter school, we’re constantly encouraged to specialize, to choose a clear path and stick with it. Conventional wisdom says it’s easier to find a stable job when you do.

Is Stephen Fry a polymath?

Fry – actor, comedian, writer and general egghead – is himself on the polymathic spectrum. He says he shares a personality trait with other polymaths – inquisitiveness.

Is Bill Gates a polymath?

By Bill Gates’ own estimate, he’s read one book a week for 52 years, many of them having nothing to do with software or business. He also has taken an annual two-week reading vacation for his entire career. In a fascinating 1994 Playboy interview, we see that he already thought of himself as a polymath: GATES: Yeah.

Is Elon Musk a polymath?

Elon Musk is a modern-day polymath. He has built four multibillion companies: SpaceX, Tesla Inc., SolarCity and the non-profit OpenAI.

Are Polymaths born or made?

“Polymaths have existed forever — indeed they are often the ones who’ve advanced Western civilization more than any others —” says author, Michael Simmons, link below. Polymaths have often been used synonymously with “geniuses”, sort of meaning that they’re born, not made.

Who is the greatest polymath of all time?

Great polymaths of history: all-round genius

• Gottfried Leibniz. Leibniz was born in 1646 in Leipzig.
• Mikhail Lomonosov. Lomonosov was born in the far north of Russia in 1710, the son of a fisherman, and died in St Petersburg in 1755.
• Benjamin Franklin.
• Shen Kuo.
• Omar Khayyam.
• Nicolaus Copernicus.
• Emanuel Swedenborg.