A polymath is someone who knows a little bit about everything. They’re the Renaissance men and women of our modern world, comfortable discussing art, science, history, psychology and pretty much anything else under the sun.
They’re usually very good at learning new things and have a wide range of knowledge. Polymaths are also often very creative and have the ability to see connections between fields that other people might not be able to see.
If you’re an entrepreneur or traveler, then you might be a polymath without even realizing it. After all, both pursuits require you to be constantly learning new things and expanding your knowledge base. And even if you’re not, you can benefit from having a polymath mindset. In this blog post, we’ll explore why being a polymath can be helpful for entrepreneurs and travelers, and how you can go about becoming one yourself. So if you’re interested in learning more about this topic, read on!
What is a Polymath?
A polymath is someone who has expertise or knowledge that spans a vast number of areas. Polymaths are multi-talented, love learning, and excel in several different fields.
You can liken them to a Renaissance man (or woman) in the modern day. Although the term wasn’t used until the 20th century, it’s applied to many of the great thinkers from that period. The term comes from Greek, and means “having learned much.”
Polymaths are generalists as opposed to specialists, and solve specific problems by drawing from complex bodies of knowledge.
You could also refer to a polymath as a multipotentialite or a multipod.
Famous Polymaths
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Maya Angelou
- Benjamin Franklin
- Hildegard of Bingen
- Henry David Thoreau
- Stephen Hawking
- Galileo
- Bertrand Russell
- Maria Gaetana Agnesi
Similar and Related Terms
- Jack-of-all-trades
- Multipod
- Multipotentialite
- Scanner
- Renaissance man
- Slasher
- Flâneur
A Final Word
The beauty of the polymath is that they are a renaissance person – someone who can excel in many different fields. We’ve seen some famous polymaths, but there are likely many more unknown polymaths out there waiting to be discovered. Who knows? You might even be a polymath and not realize it! Leave us a comment and let us know about your favorite polymath.
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