[{"id":608,"title":"Polymathy or polymathies: A typology proposal","sha":"8e54bb477f4fe239e7a364af3d219c65","user_id":null,"state":"published","body":"Recent TED talks and books like \"Range\" and \"The Polymath\" generated great popular interest in the concept of polymathy. However, polymathy is still ill-defined in academia. Here, I propose a more systematic typology, based on the literature review carried out by Araki (2015; 2018).\r\n\r\nPolymathy is divided into two major categories: passive polymathy and creative polymathy.\r\n\r\nPassive polymathy refers to the consumption of extant knowledge (Burke, 2010) whereas creative polymathy involves the generation of original contributions via cross-pollination or multidisciplinary syntheses. Passive polymathy is further divided into three types: Omni genere polymathy is the Renaissance polymathy that spans every genre of knowledge. Philosophical polymathy is the devotion to the pursuit of wide-ranging (but not all-encompassing) knowledge. Experiential polymathy is the acquisition of life-skills and meaningful experiences in a variety of forms and domains.\r\n\r\nCreative polymathy is further divided into four types: Avocational polymathy is the active engagement in multiple interests to the point of mixing vocations and avocations in a synergistic whole. Pro-c polymathy is the generation of creative products at the Pro-c level involving cross-pollination and multidisciplinary insights. Big-C polymathy is like Pro-c polymathy but involves highly eminent creations. Finally, Triarchic polymathy combines Big-C in one domain with Pro-c in at least two more domains.\r\n","created_at":"2019-06-22T04:27:08.466Z","updated_at":"2023-10-30T06:00:50.424Z","zenodo_id":3252271,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3252271","subject":null,"tags":["polymathy","polymath","creativity","expertise","knowledge","genius","eminence","renaissance person"],"vote_count":2,"view_count":1,"score":5.1,"deleted":false,"muted":false,"tweeted":true,"attachment_file_name":"Typology_of_Polymathy.png","attachment_content_type":"image/png","attachment_file_size":34665,"attachment_updated_at":"2019-06-22T04:27:08.234Z"},{"id":631,"title":"Relationships Between Polymathy as a Trait and Neurochemically-Based Individual Differences","sha":"753fac5b42e4c3cac704937e5be2ef39","user_id":null,"state":"published","body":"Polymathy traditionally means “wide-ranging knowledge”. However, Sriraman(2009) and [Michael Araki](/users/7e5ab981b273ead711a70ba889e65ff0) [Polymathy_](/ideas/8e54bb477f4fe239e7a364af3d219c65) have proposed that polymathy can function as a trait. Based the idea that polymathic people distinguishably seek to develop breadth and depth of knowledge as well as novel and useful integrations arising from it, we developed the Trait Polymathy Questionnaire, a self-report instrument. In a preliminary study, we found the following relationships between trait polymathy dimensions and neurochemically-based temperament traits:\r\n\r\n1.\tGeneral polymathy is positively associated with cortical temperament traits—plasticity(PL); probabilistic processing(PRO); and intellectual endurance(ERI)—as well as sensation seeking(SS) and self-satisfaction(SLF), and negatively associated with neuroticism(NEU).\r\n2.\tThe depth dimension alone shows no association with SS, nor plasticity or SLF. Thus, polymathy requires more novelty-seeking, speed of mental integration and self-satisfaction than specialism. \r\n3.\tThe breadth dimension alone shows no association with intellectual endurance and a stronger association with SS. Thus, an aspiring polymath without sustained attention will likely become a dilettante, not a polymath.\r\n4.\tThe integrativity dimension shows a stronger negative relationship with neuroticism and and association with motor tempo(TMS), possibly indicative of stronger dopaminergic system.\r\n\r\nPolymathy seems to originate from a unique set of traits working synergistically. Mainly cortical systems coupled with security about performance when faced with uncertainty.\r\n","created_at":"2019-11-15T20:33:30.997Z","updated_at":"2023-10-30T00:35:56.668Z","zenodo_id":3549054,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3549054","subject":null,"tags":["polymathy","polymath","temperament","personality","individual differences","differential psychology","neurochemistry","creativity","expertise","knowledge","genius","eminence","renaissance person"],"vote_count":0,"view_count":1,"score":1.1,"deleted":false,"muted":false,"tweeted":true,"attachment_file_name":"Trait_Polymathy_and_the_Functional_Ensemble_of_Temperament_together.png","attachment_content_type":"image/png","attachment_file_size":653291,"attachment_updated_at":"2019-11-15T20:33:30.856Z"},{"id":776,"title":"Breadth, Depth and Integration: The Three Dimensions of the Polymathy Construct","sha":"5ff33bee3321766b7bb581634aebfd72","user_id":null,"state":"published","body":"At the core of the polymathy construct is the person's relationship with knowledge in three dimensions: depth, breadth and integration.\r\n\r\nDepth refers to expertise and to the cumulative penetration into certain subjects of interest (in which society circumscribes within domains). It entails [knowledge components](/ideas/ffab4037c166cc20b1aebfadb090f205) (epistemic, technical and practical) that one “samples” from society, and the knowledge and expertise that one “composes” from their unique experiences and turns into self-made knowledge (Gabora, 2016). When depth is absent, dilettancy should be used instead of polymathy.\r\n\r\nBreadth refers to the latitude (also extension or comprehensiveness) of knowledge and to its diversity. Latitude entails covering several domains (as currently organized by society) whereas diversity entails knowledge in unrelated domains. More (sub-)domains and less typical combinations increase one's breadth score. Thus, developing typical arrays of expertise, well-circumscribed within a single domain, underscores specialism, not polymathy.\r\n\r\nIntegration refers to the capacity of developing connectedness and synergies among sufficiently profound and diverse ideas, activities, worldviews, styles, and modes of thinking or operation. Integration happens at the (i) ideational, (ii) personal, and (iii) societal levels: (i) involves trans-contextualism, and the synergistic command of different modes of thinking (e.g., analytic and intuitive); (ii) involves developing synergistic networks of enterprise (Gruber, 1988), or integrated activity sets (Dewey, 1934); (iii) involves creativity through integrative themes and informed, reflective and consequential actions (Bildung; [Michael Araki](/users/7e5ab981b273ead711a70ba889e65ff0)), or the examination, enlargement, and posterior enrichment of the world (Camus, 1942).\r\n","created_at":"2020-08-08T15:45:17.824Z","updated_at":"2024-07-10T09:40:14.070Z","zenodo_id":3977159,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3977159","subject":null,"tags":["polymathy","polymath","creativity","expertise","knowledge","genius","eminence","renaissance person","innovation","multipotentiality","multipotentialite"],"vote_count":0,"view_count":1,"score":2.1,"deleted":false,"muted":false,"tweeted":false,"attachment_file_name":"polymathy_triune.png","attachment_content_type":"image/png","attachment_file_size":239329,"attachment_updated_at":"2020-08-08T15:45:17.586Z"}]