The Polymath summary

Do you want to make a difference in the world? Then a turn to polymathy might be a good idea. The capacity to think polymathically is essential to tackling many of today’s major challenges.

Take climate change. Saving the planet depends on being able to synthesize advances in science and technology with political policy and smart economics that benefits people’s livelihoods. In other words, the climate crisis requires interconnected thinking. 

Are you bored by your work? Does your job leave you longing for change, excitement and adventure? Well, you’re not alone. A lot of us suffer from the monotony of our occupations. 

For one thing, many of today’s specialized white-collar jobs lack variety in a fundamental way – they don’t even allow us to move. This sedentary, “desk-job culture” which is common in today’s working world inhibits our physical well-being. 

You’d better watch out; robots are coming for your jobs! So what can you do? Well, you can start by taking a lesson from evolutionary biology. 

In his book The Naked Ape, zoologist and sociobiologist Desmond Morris compares animals that have a limited variety of diet and habitation to those that have much wider ranges. 

Did you know that the word educate is derived from the Latin educare, which means “to draw out that which is within”?

In other words, if you want to become a polymath, you have to develop that which is “within” you – and that’s your unique individuality. Several of the wise sages of the past affirm this idea. The ancient Greek philosopher Hippias of Elis, for instance, advocated for auterkeia – the ability to be self-sufficient and independent. 

As the saying goes, change is the only constant. Our bodies, our relationships and our environments change. By its very nature, life is a process of transformation. 

It’s by embracing rather than shunning change that we develop versatility, one of the fundamental features of a polymathic mindset. While change may seem hard to adjust to, our brains are in fact wired to adapt to new experiences. 

Is our modern educational system the best there is? Actually, there’s lots of room for improvement.

In this regard, it’s useful to look to indigenous cultures. Anthropologist Jared Diamond points out that these cultures can teach us a thing or two about how to educate children in a way that promotes polymathy. 

Who says that you only grow when you’re a child? As an adult, you also grow and develop as your interests change with time. 

Embracing varied interests in adulthood requires pursuing polymathy in your professional life. One way to do so is to actively seek out career changes. In this regard, why not follow in the footsteps of polymaths like Albert Schweitzer? A renowned theologian and philosopher, Schweitzer was also a celebrated organist. In addition, he took up the study of medicine in his thirties to become a physician in later life.