The Modern-Day Renaissance Man

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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