Hunt for Modern Polymaths: 20 Living Examples

#1

Post by yarapavan » Sat, Oct 10, 2009, 4:45 AM UTC

Hunt for Modern Polymaths: 20 Living Examples
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Re: Hunt for Modern Polymaths: 20 Living Examples

#2

Post by yarapavan » Sat, Oct 10, 2009, 4:56 AM UTC

A Polymath is someone who knows a lot about a lot and whose expertise fills a number of significant subject areas.

I know that there are lots of people who'll fit the bill.

Who do you recommend as a living example of a modern polymath?

Re: Hunt for Modern Polymaths: 20 Living Examples

#3

Post by rglovejoy » Sat, Oct 10, 2009, 6:05 AM UTC

yarapavan wrote: post #2

A Polymath is someone who knows a lot about a lot and whose expertise fills a number of significant subject areas. I know that there are lots of people who'll fit the bill. Who do you recommend as a living example of a modern polymath?

* Anthony Julius - Author, Literary Critic, Attorney

* Donald Knuth - Mathematician, Typographer, Musician, Philosopher

* Rudy Rucker - Mathematician, Science Fiction Writer

* Alex Kozinski - Federal Judge, Essayist, Humorist

* Murray Gell-Mann - Physicist, Mathematician, Linguist

Re: Hunt for Modern Polymaths: 20 Living Examples

#4

Post by frisco » Sat, Oct 10, 2009, 7:17 AM UTC

A lot of the "strings" seem expansions of others or superfluous. For example, it lists "Physicist, philosopher, author, mathematician" for Penrose. I'm not so sure that theoretical physics and maths are different enough to qualify you as a polymath, and "author" falls out of being a good physicist; he's not exactly writing fiction on the side.

Re: Hunt for Modern Polymaths: 20 Living Examples

#5

Post by yarapavan » Sat, Oct 10, 2009, 7:33 AM UTC

rglovejoy wrote: post #3

yarapavan wrote: post #2

A Polymath is someone who knows a lot about a lot and whose expertise fills a number of significant subject areas. I know that there are lots of people who'll fit the bill. Who do you recommend as a living example of a modern polymath?

* Anthony Julius - Author, Literary Critic, Attorney * Donald Knuth - Mathematician, Typographer, Musician, Philosopher * Rudy Rucker - Mathematician, Science Fiction Writer * Alex Kozinski - Federal Judge, Essayist, Humorist * Murray Gell-Mann - Physicist, Mathematician, Linguist

One more addition * Von Neumann - Mathematician, Economist,Game Theorist, Computer Scientist.

Re: Hunt for Modern Polymaths: 20 Living Examples

#6

Post by piramida » Sat, Oct 10, 2009, 8:14 AM UTC

frisco wrote: post #4

A lot of the "strings" seem expansions of others or superfluous. For example, it lists "Physicist, philosopher, author, mathematician" for Penrose. I'm not so sure that theoretical physics and maths are different enough to qualify you as a polymath, and "author" falls out of being a good physicist; he's not exactly writing fiction on the side.

My thoughts exactly. Taking this criteria, thousands of people can be listed, author just lists people he heard of. Not like any of them are a new Leo.

But yes, even in specialization age there are talented people who are successful in more than one discipline. There are many thousands of them. But "successful" and being world's best is different - there are what, zero people in this list who can be considered top of the crop in more than one listed area?

Re: Hunt for Modern Polymaths: 20 Living Examples

#7

Post by samlittlewood » Sat, Oct 10, 2009, 1:19 PM UTC

yarapavan wrote: post #2

A Polymath is someone who knows a lot about a lot and whose expertise fills a number of significant subject areas. I know that there are lots of people who'll fit the bill. Who do you recommend as a living example of a modern polymath?

Jonathan Miller - Medical doctor, neuropsychology research, opera, theatre & TV director, wrote and performed in 'Beyond the Fringe', Sculpture, TV presenter, author.

(Not only did he do these things - he excel(ed/s) at them)

Re: Hunt for Modern Polymaths: 20 Living Examples

#8

Post by nibrahim » Sat, Oct 10, 2009, 6:06 PM UTC

yarapavan wrote: post #5

rglovejoy wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

* Anthony Julius - Author, Literary Critic, Attorney * Donald Knuth - Mathematician, Typographer, Musician, Philosopher * Rudy Rucker - Mathematician, Science Fiction Writer * Alex Kozinski - Federal Judge, Essayist, Humorist * Murray Gell-Mann - Physicist, Mathematician, Linguist

One more addition * Von Neumann - Mathematician, Economist,Game Theorist, Computer Scientist.

Eric Raymond perhaps? - Programmer, Musician, Media personality, Martial artist, Economist, Mathematician, Mystic, Essayist, Author

The man does have a way of 'inflating' what he does but these are things he claims to be.

Re: Hunt for Modern Polymaths: 20 Living Examples

#9

Post by bhiggins » Sat, Oct 10, 2009, 6:42 PM UTC

nibrahim wrote: post #8

yarapavan wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One more addition * Von Neumann - Mathematician, Economist,Game Theorist, Computer Scientist.

Eric Raymond perhaps? - Programmer, Musician, Media personality, Martial artist, Economist, Mathematician, Mystic, Essayist, Author The man does have a way of 'inflating' what he does but these are things he claims to be.

you have to be good at those things to count

Re: Hunt for Modern Polymaths: 20 Living Examples

#10

Post by guitarjunkie » Sat, Oct 10, 2009, 6:46 PM UTC

nibrahim wrote: post #8

yarapavan wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One more addition * Von Neumann - Mathematician, Economist,Game Theorist, Computer Scientist.

Eric Raymond perhaps? - Programmer, Musician, Media personality, Martial artist, Economist, Mathematician, Mystic, Essayist, Author The man does have a way of 'inflating' what he does but these are things he claims to be.

How about bigot? Does that count?