I guess if you're determined enough you can manage to be say, a Mechanical Engineer who's knowledgable in Coding or Comp-Sci. But I'm talking about being Veeky Forums, reading books en-masse, painting, knowing how to fight, having a fashion sense, having knowledge of politics and the markets, etc, etc.
Is it possible nowadays, where we have more information than we can proccess?
Obviously depends on how fast a learner you are
Yes, stop wasting time on the intershit. Look what you're doing right now. It's ghastly, and you're going to be dead a lot sooner than you can currently imagine because I hacked your IP and you ISP's log files. I know who and where you are and I am going to kill you.
Well, some things that you listed can be easily done in < a year, like
>painting
>knowing how to fight
>having a fashion sense
But the ones that take being Veeky Forums
>reading books en-masse
>having knowledge of politics and markets
2 and 3 can be done together, and being Veeky Forums does take you some years if you want to be natty.
And again OP, listen to first post as well, you cannot be something like Neumann these days, neither you can master a single formal or natural science like math or physics.
Last time someone mastered mathematics was David Hilbert, and then it stopped because of him and other developments that made mathematics so broad.
>I am going to kill you.
Thank God. Do you want me to buy you the tickets or anything? It's pretty far, even with a plane. I'll the bullet to the head please. I'd also appreciate a time-table or something. Gottaknow the time or I'll die by the excitement!
Oh, I'm not talking about myself. i don't have the drive. I was just wondering if it's possible. Obviously the working out/being fab part is the most realistic, but I was thinking something along the lines of the Renesance era.
Yes, but it will not be as broad as the Renaissance.
You can become a polymath if, for example, get a pre-med then MD and lastly get a PhD in Chemistry, Biology or Chem/BioEngineering maybe.
Or the 2nd path being a dual Math/Philosophy major, take J.D. and later on either take a PhD on Math, Philosophy or dual one on PhD on Foundations of Mathematics and Philosophy.
But oh boy, you definitely have to be part of the top 5% in the U.S. to do this kind of thing.
It is possible to be a polymath.
Consider that the average High Schooler with a C or a B is a lot more knowledgeable in the field of mathematics than say someone like Da Vinci, we are all polymaths and renaissance men in a sense.
Your best bet is really to take up representational drawing(classical) and mathematics to be as well rounded as possible, once you mastered the fundamentals of both you're pretty much set up to be good at any other sub-branches whether that's sculpture(art), architecture(art math), physics(math), compsci(math), or even smut drawing(art).
Of course I'm oversimplifying things because it takes years of consistent practice, dedication and honesty with self to get good at either but there really isn't anything stopping anybody other than the distracting media we consume.
But it'll only get harder the broader these fields get, art itself hasn't evolved much since the academic era, but math? Its orders of magnitudes larger since then, and standards have risen exponentially regarding these fields.
You've lived for a fraction of the amount of time that you will live. Of course it's possible.
I'm a mechanical engineer by trade, I picked up computer programming (Java, Python, C, HTML/CSS/JavaScript) in my spare time in my early years of college, my job is physically taxing enough to keep me fit, I've picked up deep & practical knowledge of electrical & civil engineering through my work, I took krav maga classes so I know how to fight with near military effectiveness, I'm knowledgeable enough about politics that my peers on either side haven't been able to debunk my talking points (because I got to them by iteratively debunking myself), a self-made millionaire who still does it for the love of the sport is a financial advisor at the office & teaches me new things about the market every now and then, and I know that fashion is worthless.
I'm 26 years old. I'm also only two years into my career, so I can expect this list to expand by at least an order of magnitude by the time I reach my 50s. Respect your elders, boy.
You sir, are a scholar and a gentleman, and I salute you.
Be the Asian-american Jonny kim
BSc in Mathematics graduating summa cum laude from the University of San Diego, and a Doctorate from Harvard Medical School.
He is a Navy SEAL with over 100 combat operations. He is a recipient of the Silver Star and a Bronze Star (with Valor device).
Dr. Jonny Kim has been selected by NASA to join the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class.
>we are all polymaths and renaissance men in a sense.
c'mon breh
Were there ever 100 Navy SEAL operations? What even counts as an operation?
Let's say it takes 10 years to become an expert at anything.
You live ~70 years.
Let's say you begin at 20, you have enough time to be an expert in at least 5 domains.
In reality it takes less than this, especially since for example being an expert in maths can lead you to be an expert in physics in a few years, same if you are an history expert and you want to learn economics ..etc
So it's really doable. (not taking into account brain wear with age)
>not taking into account brain wear with age
you should
when it comes to learning, the brain in your twenties behaves as if it were in its earliest years, when it's developing the most
if you're a brainlet after that, you're a brainlet for ever
yes, start scheduling the shit out of your day and dont be a wage slave
sure, but nobody will care like they would have even 100 years ago.
it's not like it takes a whole lot anyway...
>draw/paint
>dance
>math
>some instrument
>physics/biology/chemistry(pick at least one)
>some languages other than english you know well like german, french, russian, etc
>be notably aesthetic like pic related
add a dollop of philosophy/writing into the mix and you're a polymath as long as you're actually good at those things
none of the shit you're describing is HARD to do. 99% are just THAT lazy that they don't want to do it.
no idea why not, life is too neat to not give a shit and try as hard as you can so you can feel like you did your best on the back end of your life.
A bit disturbing to see that many in the new intake with combat experience. Are they planning a major operation against the Martians?
>sure, but nobody will care like they would have even 100 years ago.
In my line of work you are expected to know more than work. You are expected to handle serious conversations ranging from history to science fiction literature. Nobody will be surprised if you speak 3 languages. Or if you have a background as a scientist. A PhD is normal.
But yes, most people couldn't care less. They just don't matter.
cringe
that sounds verysmart
>Are they planning a major operation against the Martians?
>A bit disturbing to see that many in the new intake with combat experience.
In Cold War USA & Soviet Union cold start a War in Space, so both sides prepared astronauts military.
The Space Race served a purpose, to develop Military Technologies such as Rockets (Missles in Disguise)
Much of NASA Budget is in fact Military Budget in Disguise.
NASA Space Technology can be then applied for more practical Military purpose (Aircrafts, Submarines, Navigation Systems) just like Rockets are Missiles in disguise.
So It's no surprising that Many of USA & Russia Astronauts were Air force Pilots & Navy/Army Soldiers before become Astronauts.
Hahahahaha what a joke
There's a theoretical maximum to what you can learn : learning ability times lifespan minus brain decay.
Pretty much anyone with a decent intelligence and lifespan can become an expert in one, or possibly two unrelated subjects.
Becoming an expert in more than two subjects might be possible if they overlap, e.g. biochemistry/neuroscience/psychiatry/pharmacology.
I guess a true polymath's knowledge would be very broad but not equally deep in every branch, e.g :
-expert in 2 fields
-very knowledgeable but not expert in 4 fields
-reasonably knowledgeable in 10 fields
-above-average but not really competent in 20 fields
-superficial understanding in 50 fields.
Are there Polybiols, too? And Polychems?
How about this man - compartmentalization of disciplines is the main impediment to the progress of human knowledge in current year.
Academic disciplines don't exist in nature. For example, say you're an expert climatologist. How much did you learn about astrophysics? Does the Earth's climate not exist as a part of a larger solar system? But you don't know anything about that, do you?
Say you're an expert economist. How much did you learn about pure mathematics? Sure, other economists think your math models are fantastic, but has a professional mathematician ever looked at them?
The disciplines don't even talk to one another, and worse there's a taboo against "talking out of school."
Monomaths at the keyboard.
If you start early you can get much further. For instance learning a new language is far easier before puberty, afterwards it takes a lot more time.
A lot of time in school is a waste of time, get good teachers and stop treating children as idiots and you would see polymaths aplenty.
Of course it's possible. And even though the amount of knowledge you can obtain has increased, you also have easier access to it. It's just a matter of discipline and time management. Think of all the time you waste every single day that can be put to better use
But for most people, it's terribly unlikely. In that case, it's never a good idea to spread yourself too thin. Instead, focus on a few things, become the best at it, then contribute to the world in some way. Nobody on earth cares if you're average in 10 fields as opposed to being an expert in 2. Secondly, knowledge will slip out of your mind if you're not actively using the info you've gathered,so you very well may waste your time
The only problem is if your skill just stops improving. I've always been really good at guitar, and I've picked up a dozen other instruments and been pretty good. But I wanted to be like Steve Vai y'know. Most random people would think I'm insanely good but I'm only like maybe 80% as good as him on a good day. And the better I get the closer the gap seems at times. Even the best still use certain strategies to get the most out of their playing and they still fudge up sometimes. So the better I got the better I wanted to be. I'm still not as good as Vai but I want to be even better.
I think about how good I was from the start and that all the practicing has only gotten me a little bit better. I could have learned ten other things while I was trying to be the best at one thing.
bumping for interest
Le ebin bump XxxDDd.
bump
This, ladies and gentlemen, is an example of a terroristic threat. Now the problem with a terroristic threat is that there is no way of escaping shame. Either the threat is carried out, causing a mortal sin to be committed, or the threat is not carried out, making the threatener not a man of his word. Most unfortunate.
>the top 5% in the U.S.
IQ? Wealth?
Probably both. If your degrees are all over the place, even if your grades are good, employers will hesitate in hiring you.
I am also trying to become a polymath
How?
Personally I recommend reading a lot, also outside your field. Try to learn a few languages including Nihongo. Get them moon runes under control.
>How?
Follow your honest to god passions and interests. Not the guy you're replying to however. My main interest is in the sciences, so I'm studying a joint major in chemistry and physics, and I study extra mathematics and read undergrad biology textbooks (mainly biochem, microbio and hopefully soon) genetics for fun. I also plan to do postgrad education, and I know programming in Python is very common in PhD programs these days, so I started learning Python in my own time and developed a newfound appreciation for computer science in the progress. Then I accidentally got into literature/the classics because of a poem I heard recited on youtube that made me cry (I know, I'm a faggot) so now I'm reading lots of entry level Veeky Forums stuff for fun on the side, and once I feel I have the time I will develop better reading skills, study grammar and pentameter, and maybe start picking up extra languages.
TL;DR don't start out with the goal of becoming a polymath, just study for the love of studying.
Yes! be Edward Witten
Master of History, Physics & Math.
BSc in History (top of class)
Princeton PhD in Theoretical Physics.
Math Fields Medal.
Permanent Research Position at Princeton Institute of Advanced Studies.
Depends on to what extent you define a polymath. Every subject contains arbitrary depth and there are multitudes and multitudes of fields out there, with various branches which one may even consider separate fields themselves.
Something like learning the equivalent of an undergrad in 10 disjoint fields might be feasible.
French engineers from top tier schools are basically polymaths.
I heard that Ecole Polytechnique teach PhD level Math with proofs (Topology, Complex Analysis, Differential Geometry) & PhD level Physics (Quantum Field Theory) for Engineers. But what's the point? Why they do that, they won't use that much of math & physics. Do it boost Brain power or what?
>Developing an established, knowledgeable fashion sense in less than a year.
How delusional are you?
I'm 18 years old. I am already in first year of physics and i am thinking of studying philosophy for when i get my physics degree. My argument is that physics is the fundamental, basic science and I confer to philosophy a great potential and beauty in taking a look at the world and the existing points of view for it. I also read a lot of literature, medicine and history, can play the guitar and bass guitar but i'm sedentary (working on change it!).
The point is i love knowledge and i want to be teacher, but i'm not thinking of postgraduate, instead i think of a second degree. Maybe the postgraduate studies after that.
Why would you want to do this? You can achieve so much more by specialising and concentrating on one thing.
I see the joke there
Simplifying a lot: you say the world needs polymaths?
PolySexuals
Did you read the previous posts? What do you have to share in this topic or in the ultra-specialization one? Would like to know
Bump
Bump
>multiple sexes
"Bisexual" is already a thing. Why does this exist?
and yet you shitpost on a vietnamese taxidermy website
Believe me, my life isn't exactly packed with adventure. This is just an aggregate from having years behind me where I was bored and did shit along with being in a workplace that has a couple of interesting quirks.
>not painting
>not fighting
>he picks out a fucking fashion sense
>polymath
>lists a bunch of meaningless shit
fuck off
They don't seem to have much international impact. Is that because they only read and publish in French?
because bi means two
poly is used to mean more than two
>being Veeky Forums
Has nothing to do with learning or being learned.
> painting
Read above.
>knowing how to fight, having a fashion sense,
Read above.
>you don't learn how to paint or martial arts
>>you don't learn how to paint or martial arts
Theres a difference between regular polymath and sports polymath.
Also there are no non trivial problems to solve with painting.
being a polymath isn't about solving problems. the op also didn't claim he wanted to be a mixed martial artist, but to know martial arts as part of his breadth of overall talents and knowledge
>being a polymath isn't about solving problems.
Read whats written on that picture in the OP.
i disagree with the definition. never have I know someone to want to be a polymath to solve certain problems. they'd just be an engineer at that point
>i disagree with the definition.
If you dont agree with the definition most people have accepted and even explicitly written as such, then you have no place arguing any other points until your version of definition is well established.
> never have I know someone to want to be a polymath to solve certain problems.
Who are these people that you know?
>I'm fit, can fight, average guitar player (4 years experience), bilingual and am currently studying electrical engineering with pretty high grades.
To be able to do that stuff you just need to stop wasting time on bullshit.
What do you really mean with having knowledge of politics and the markets? Like being able to sustain a casual argument with an expert on the field or just discuss it with a friend?
Wealth. IQ you realistically need to be in the 0.1% or less.
Bump
>never have I know someone to want to be a polymath to solve certain problems.
Polymaths seem to gain their knowledge for the pleasure of learning, not view a view to turn it into a commercial enterprise.
>they'd just be an engineer at that point
What?
And all the polymaths I know have a backgrounds in science, not engineering.
Bumping
>all the polymaths I know
Hey, you, too. Who are these polymaths you know? Professors?
>Polymath
One is a professor in Physics and speaks several languages including Chinese, German, English and more, has a solid knowledge of world history, calligraphy, politics, literature and more.
Most of my colleagues are former scientists and many have a deep interest in history, especially ancient history, as well as arts in general, especially literature.
>And all the polymaths I know have a backgrounds in science, not engineering.
I don't think so that matters, because at that point they certainly wouldn't be "just an engineer". Even if they would do engineering (many polymaths did) related stuff, they would be far above average and could still be considered a polymath.
That guys argument simply doesn't make sense. Every single science on this planet solves problems. E.g. discovering how chemical X reacts with Y is actually solving a specific problem to gain knowledge.
On the other hand I don't want to take this further, because it could cause this thread to devolve into the "engineer vs scientist" bullshit. I don't want that.
>Polymaths seem to gain their knowledge for the pleasure of learning, not view a view to turn it into a commercial enterprise.
Can confirm. I was always interested in multiple, usually interdisciplinary stuff and I always learn and do stuff because I can. I find pleasure in learning new stuff and it feels my heart with unbelievable feelings when something I build works, especially if it's complex and it works on first or second try. A good design is art.
I never thought of myself as a polymath though. I guess it's the same for them.
>feels
fills
Fuck this shit.
I actually had a cool professor with 3 PhDs. He was valedictorian in high school, got a huge sports scholarship on which I forget the sport, and if I remember correctly he studied particle physics, epistemology, and neuroscience. Is that varied enough?
[spoiler]He was only early 30s at the time which was more impressive.[/spoiler]
I ended up getting really close to him. Went to his wedding. This was years ago though, haven't talked to him in forever.
you know what m8y, i'll try doing that. i'm pretty smart and good at pretty much everything, but it's hard for me to excel in most fields. i suppose now it's time to get off my ass since i wanna be learning mechE, some electro, some physics ( mostly energy sources ), some compsci, biology and genetics, economics and anything related to them and also start training non-meme martial arts and keep going to the gym. while still being the same drunken idiot, i hope i'll manage, wish me luck anons
ill feels u
in the butt
))((
good for him but it's a waste of time to do mathematics, medicine and then go on a 6 year contract to be a soldier.
>but muh special forces
they dick around and have more operation that regular military men but they're still that, military men taking order from the higher ups and running all day and shooting shit in the yard when not killing sand niggers
still, good for him, he's probably done more that most people who will ever live so he's good
what you are saying is not feasible and efficient in any way, however we need just a few polymaths in key positions to guide society into the right place. even still we don't need their knowledge, it's just that they're more likely to be smarter and wiser that the average worker who is a mindless drone
mech-E/comp-E double major with lots of coding experiance
composer
artist
do i count?
how'd you manage with a double major
most people tell me i'm retarded for attempting one but i'm confident i can do it, they're just lazy cunts
I'm trying to get there but anime and porn keep getting in the way.
Both science and engineering are about solving problems but of a very different nature.
Could it be that people who have a polymath inclination are more attracted to science because it appears more abstract and overarching?
It's very possible, but you have to stop multitasking and learn to concentrate on one thing at a time. Ideally this thing should be a creative pursuit which throws you in the deep end of an unfamiliar field.