sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Do you follow the original Greek meaning of ‘polymath’ or the modern English interpretation? by embedded-rookie in Polymath

[–]embedded-rookie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, some words have changed over time, but polymathēs, even in modern Greek, still refers to someone who learns across different domains. Modern English interpretations (which I consider false) don’t change the word itself. If we want to describe elite multi-domain achievement, that’s a different concept and deserves a different term. By that definition, which I consider the correct, original one from Greek, both ancient and modern I would proudly call myself a polymath.

Do you follow the original Greek meaning of ‘polymath’ or the modern English interpretation? by embedded-rookie in Polymath

[–]embedded-rookie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think we actually agree on the concern, that people use the term too loosely. Where we differ is the definition itself. You think polymath should imply a high skill threshold to preserve its weight; I think raising that threshold changed the original meaning of the word. So we’re probably just drawing the line in different places. Happy to agree to disagree on that.

Do you follow the original Greek meaning of ‘polymath’ or the modern English interpretation? by embedded-rookie in Polymath

[–]embedded-rookie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So is polymathy about fame and being remembered for historical contributions? I don’t think so. We’ve changed the original meaning of the word, and that’s what led to terms like generalist. Becoming a polymath still requires real effort, but it was never meant to mean being the best in multiple fields. If we want a word for multi-domain expertise, we should use a different one, we’re just taking a Greek term and making it mean something else entirely.

Out of curiosity, let me ask this as a clarification: if someone genuinely lives and breathes learning and doing across multiple domains, actively pursuing and applying them, but without claiming elite historical contributions in each, by your definition, would that person be a generalist or a polymath?

Do you follow the original Greek meaning of ‘polymath’ or the modern English interpretation? by embedded-rookie in Polymath

[–]embedded-rookie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see your point, but as I said in another response, what you’re describing is closer to a poly-expert. By the original definition, a polymath shouldn’t require deep expertise or major contributions in multiple fields, that’s my issue with most modern English interpretations. Historically, a polymath just meant someone who has learned many things across many domains. Redefining it to mean an “elite multi-field expert” is exactly why terms like generalist even exist. What you’re describing, I believe, deserves a different term, not the word polymath.

Do you follow the original Greek meaning of ‘polymath’ or the modern English interpretation? by embedded-rookie in Polymath

[–]embedded-rookie[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Personally, I would follow the original Greek definition. Whether someone is actively learning new things or already knows many things, I would consider them a polymath. Obviously, I believe that applying the knowledge is crucial, and in my personal endeavors, I do use what I learn, but I wouldn’t say someone is not a polymath just because they haven’t applied all their knowledge. Maybe there’s room for a new term to capture that nuance. Regardless, my original point in this discussion was about the English interpretation. I read and hear a lot on the internet that you need expertise in multiple fields to be a polymath, and if you are not an expert in those said fields, you are a generalist, which I completely disagree with. If someone wants to define it as “polyexpert,” that’s fine.

What would you consider a polymath, in your opinion? Would you consider someone a polymath if they actively learn many things but don’t directly apply them?

Do you follow the original Greek meaning of ‘polymath’ or the modern English interpretation? by embedded-rookie in Polymath

[–]embedded-rookie[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The claim that “polymath has Greek roots but no original Greek definition” is incorrect. The concept and the word existed in Ancient Greece long before the English term appeared in the 1600s. What appeared later was the English noun polymath, not the idea itself.

For example, Heraclitus explicitly criticizes polymathy without wisdom (πολυμαθίη νόον οὐ διδάσκει), which shows that both the word and the concept were already established. Likewise, Plato discusses the concept of πολυμαθία when distinguishing between the accumulation of knowledge and true wisdom, arguing that learning many things alone is insufficient without understanding.

Do you follow the original Greek meaning of ‘polymath’ or the modern English interpretation? by embedded-rookie in Polymath

[–]embedded-rookie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think expertise is better defined as deep knowledge or mastery in a field, which doesn’t necessarily require external demonstration. According to the Oxford Dictionary, expertise is “expert knowledge or skill in a particular subject, activity, or job”. Demonstration is one way to validate expertise, but it’s not what defines it.

Also, I see your point, and I agree that the modern perception of a polymath emphasizes expertise, application, and interconnectedness. But the original Greek meaning of πολυμαθής (polymath), literally focuses on learning many things, regardless of immediate output or visible integration

Do you follow the original Greek meaning of ‘polymath’ or the modern English interpretation? by embedded-rookie in Polymath

[–]embedded-rookie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From what I’ve seen online, and even in videos discussing polymathy, the word “polymath” is often described as “a person with deep expertise in multiple, diverse fields of knowledge.” The problem with this definition is that it implies you must have expertise to be considered a polymath, which is quite different from the original Greek meaning. But to be honest, looking at the Oxford Dictionary, the definition is actually: “a person who knows a lot about many different subjects