Components of Expertise

Herling (2000:13) in his "Operational definitions of expertise and competence" outlined three basic components of expertise: knowledge; problem-solving; and experience.

Here, I propose a more sophisticated differentiation that involves four... continue reading

The Atlas of human Interests

Are the Japanese more interested in nanotechnology than the German? How many people want to become musicians? Are salespeople conscientious? In the Behavioral Sciences, studies on the diversity of human interests are scarce. Comprehending better... continue reading

Polymathy or polymathies: A typology proposal

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... continue reading

Relationships Between Polymathy as a Trait and Neurochemically-Based Individual Differences

Polymathy traditionally means “wide-ranging knowledge”. However, Sriraman(2009) and Michael Araki Polymathy_ have proposed that polymathy can function as a... continue reading

Breadth, Depth and Integration: The Three Dimensions of the Polymathy Construct

At the core of the polymathy construct is the person's relationship with knowledge in three dimensions: depth, breadth and integration.

Depth refers to expertise and to the cumulative penetration into certain subjects of interest (in which... continue reading

Clarifying Heraclitus' criticism of polymathy as a bad craft

In fragment XXV (Khan, 1979), Heraclitus writes that polymathy is bad craft (kakotechnie). However, in that extract he is referring to the “pilling up” of learnings without the application of rigor and without good guiding principles.
... continue reading

Index of the Value of Labor over Capital (LoCI)

I present a simple index to gauge the relative valuation of labor over capital in a country (LoCI). This index should correlate positively with the wealth and HDI of the country, and negatively with the precariousness of life of basic service... continue reading

Proposed Definition of Polymathy and Polymathic Orientation

Polymathy is a multidimensional approach to learning and personal development that involves the pursuit, development, and application of knowledge characterized by three dimensions: breadth, depth, and integration. (1) Breadth refers to the... continue reading

Breadth and depth are positively correlated emergent properties of engagement

Scholars like Duckworth and Ericsson speak of an “ineluctable trade-off between breadth and depth” in expertise and knowledge acquisition. However, recent research on polymathy shows a positive... continue reading

The Atlas of Human Range

The Atlas of Human Range (AoHR) is an Atlas of Human Interests evolution. The AoHR, however, maps a vast spectrum of human inner and outer manifestations, spanning temperament, personality, interests,... continue reading

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