What is a Polymath?
A polymath is someone who has a very extensive knowledge of a wide range of topics. Unlike a generalist, who knows a little bit about a lot of things, a polymath knows a great deal about a number of things. You may also hear a polymath described as a Renaissance Man (or Woman), or homo universalis, a term which was used at the time of the Renaissance. Some notable polymaths from history include: Galileo, Copernicus, Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, Su Song, Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, Imhotep, and Hildegard. The term “polymath” comes from the Greek roots poly-, for “many,” and manthanein, “to learn.” A polymath, in other words, is someone who has learned much. People have been using this term since the 1600s, when the Renaissance in Europe triggered a redevelopment in interest in classical learning, and society began to prize people with a number of skills and a wide knowledge base. Polymaths are not just knowledgeable about a wide range of topics: they also have an assortment of skills.
