An idea that stuck with me from childhood was that our era no longer had polymaths. I do not remember from which source this idea came, but the reasoning was that the human knowledge had grown too vast for any person to encompass science, philosophy and the arts simultaneously in their lifetime. I am here to argue the contrary.
Yes, if we choose a strict enough definition of what constitutes a polymath, nobody can reach such a high threshold. Science, the arts, sports – all are complex and infinite subjects which demand dedication. In particular, science has expanded to a level where the sheer quantity of information needed to catch up with the giants who came before us has drastically increased, and merely keeping up with the literature on a very active scientific subject in its entirety appears impossible. Though, it is not all doom and gloom: while there is more to learn, information is also easier to digest and we are better equiped to assimilate it.
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