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Our last post posited on the best way to win the Nobel Prize. In the process, the question was raised as to who best constitutes a modern-day Renaissance Man, and I’m not talking about someone who can joust and roast pigs at the Renaissance Fair.
As a modern-day Sherlock Holmes, I started my query with Wikipedia. It turns out that their idea of a Renaissance Man is Danny DeVito. Or maybe Penny Marshall. I’m not exactly clear.
One thing I did learn was the definition of a Polymath: a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. The common term Renaissance Man is used to describe a person who is well educated or who excels in a wide variety of subjects or fields.
So let’s take a hypothetical look at what a modern polymath might look like:
- Able to speak knowledgeably on all topics, including but not limited to molecular biology, linguistics, kite-flying, the American Civil War, physics, engineering, Klingon language, culture and history, medicine, reality TV, and mathematics.
- Expert at small engine repair.
- Able to play 3 musical instruments, one of which must be the oboe.
- Must answer every question correctly during a game of Trivial Pursuit.
- Able to tie all common sailor knots.
- Able to remove an appendix, from a living patient.
- Equally lethal with a gun, knife, or lantern shield.
- Can lasso a steer in less than 15 seconds.
- Knows all the lyrics to American Pie.
Based on the previous list, we can probably all agree that besides James Franco, the best example of a modern-day Renaissance Man is MacGyver*.
Or, you can use Yahoo! Answers. According to the masses, the modern-day Renaissance Man is Bill Gates, because he was really good at one thing, and made lots of money at it. Makes sense to me, Internet. Thanks!
*Followed closely by 2. Batman 3. The Professor from Gilligan’s Island and 4. Mike Tyson.
Please Note: This blog would like to point out the hyphen in the title. That is what some people refer to as grammatically correct.
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Tags: American Civil War, American Pie, Appendix, Batman, Bill Gates, Danny Devito, Engineering, Gilligan's Island, Grammar, Gun, James Franco, Kite-Flying, Klingon Culture, Klingon History, Klingon Language, Knife, Lantern Shield, Lasso, Linguistics, MacGyver, Mathematics, Medicine, Molecular Biology, Nobel Prize, Oboe, Penny Marshall, Physics, Reality TV, Renaissance Fair, Renaissance Man, Sailor Knots, Sherlock Holmes, The Professor, Trivial Pursuit, Wikipedia, Yahoo!
