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.
However, set the threshold high enough and there would never have been any polymath at all. There are so many perspectives to take on any subject that we can rarely run dry of things to learn. That being so, it proves useless to define a polymath using an arbitrary threshold of competence. I much prefer defining a polymath as someone with a rich variety of competences, each deep enough that they can be applied meaningfully and, when appropriate, combined. That is the real power that being a polymath brings, and it is still accessible today.
Why this blog post ? Because day after day, I am amazed by the extent of what we can learn, and the possibilities it opens up. I see people in their twenties who are professional mathematicians and speak a dozen languages. I see people in the traditional folk communities who have mastered half a dozen musical instruments. What a gift to be fully immersed in science, the arts, and spirituality; to be at once scientist, artist and philosopher. To feel in tune with your body, to make your own attempts at understanding the world, to share human connection through a dance or a song. What a joy to go from one instrument to the next, feeling that whatever calls to you lies within reach if you dedicate the years. Think it impossible, and the door closes on everything waiting beyond.