Sciences: 100 to 200 level coursework in Geology, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Obviously everyone has their own sacred cows, but this is what I'd put forth as an absolute minimum Things most people would consider unimportant enough to document, but flavor the very water of the texts and classwork.įourth - the canon itself.
Think of it like the secular version of apostolic succession - some aspects of any given discipline are only learned by being in that discipline for a while - getting to know the people and the slang and the in-jokes of the community. Third - Books and classes aren't enough to really get the "feel" of a discipline. And finding friends that enjoy talking about these kinds of things. The single most important step is to learn to take joy in learning for the sake of learning. Honestly though, this is one of those times where it is the journey rather than the destination that's important.
You're talking about a goal that takes years to attain - this is the work of a lifetime, not a semester. Second - a single course won't even give you the slightest taste of it. As you (and the wiki) point out, the breadth of human knowledge for at least the last couple hundred years has precluded any single person from attaining an expert level of familiarity with more than a smidgen of it. Don't come to UVa though our Math department is garbage.įirst - what you're asking for is pretty much what a decent liberal arts education was originally supposed to provide - a good grounding in the basics of the various foundational sciences, mathematics, history, major languages, literature, et al. Are there any schools or colleges that provide a single course that would cover this type of thing, something that provides a good overview of several subjects, but does not dwell too deeply into any one specific subject ?At UVa, I took a 100 level course called "The Art of Mathematical Thinking" that sampled fun problems from many branches of mathematics. Before you undertake a particular section of a text, see if you can solve the exercises before you learn the theory!ģ. You must exercise your greater mathematical talent by forcing yourself to try to complete problems you have yet been taught to solve. To be an effective polymath, it doesn't help to merely study math. One thing that may help you find subjects to study is perusing mathworld. It's hotness is most evident when applied to information systems. What would be a good list of subjects for someone to study if they want to strive to become a modern polymath ?Topping my list is Topology. Any general opinions or advice would be appreciated.ġ.
I would be grateful for any recommendations for specific books, publishers, websites, DVD's, or other educational materials that may lend themselves to this purpose. Are there any schools or colleges that provide a single course that would cover this type of thing, something that provides a good overview of several subjects, but does not dwell too deeply into any one specific subject ? It also seems the materials must convey a solid overview of the subjects without getting extremely deep, and convey the information in a clear and efficient manner.ģ. It seems the list must be of a practical nature & size, and the teaching materials must lend themselves to self-teaching. We live in a world with an overwhelming amount of subjects and knowledge, and it's growing all the time. Once what should be studied is generally defined, what specific books, DVD's, and educational materials, are recommended for each subject ? What would be a good list of subjects for someone to study if they want to strive to become a modern polymath ?Ģ. I'm interested in receiving feedback on the following questions & comments.ġ. The idea of at least *striving to become* well rounded like a polymath appeals to me. A polymath or a Renaissance person is considered someone with an extraordinarily broad and comprehensive knowledge.
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