Paths to Polymathy | Ben Vandgrift | TEDxCharlotte
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Learn to learn, by example. While there’s a lot of conversation around how great polymaths are, getting there yourself is still a mystery. Let’s pull back the curtain on that, and look at a spectrum of learning pathways for growing your own knowledge. I want them to walk away from this talk with their boundaries moved. They can, and should, learn more than they think they can. I want them to have another tool in their belt for discovery, another lens through which they can view their own potential genius.
What action items do you want people to take away from your talk? “1. Grow. 2. Grow.”
Ben Vandgrift struggles daily with a compulsion to solve problems. His decades-old journey has most recently led him to Clojure, allowing him to solve many software problems elegantly and efficiently. He works as a software engineer when he’s not being mauled by his rescue panther.
I struggle with a problem-solving compulsion. Like Alton Brown, there’s nothing I hate more than not knowing everything-learning new things is a life’s work, a hobby, a profession, and a joy.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx
"Necessity is about reaching the minimum, while curiosity is about reaching the maximum." 3:40
Gaurang curiosity killed the cat
And knowing there isn’t one.
No maximum, people have no limit.
@@SavageStephen but satisfaction brought it back
i'm sitting in my room trying not to cry, i've finally found the purpose of my life, thank you!!!!
Max Michaeler i’m crying ;-;;;
I feel exactly the same
How are you doing today? Genuine check in? I hope you are well
@@6lack5ushi Maximilian Michaeler unfortunately passed away in late 2019 after trying new foods at a market in China. He developed pneumonia-like symptoms and died.
Saem
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” ― Rumi.
I think Elon Musk read this the other way around 😆🤣
Rome wasn’t build in a day - Romans
Nah, the world needs changing. Not for my sake, but for its.
The key is to become a polymath without becoming a dilettante. The former not only fully commits themselves towards multiple avenues of thought, but integrates them as their knowledge grows; the latter will only go so far in their pursuits before abandoning them, leaving them half-finished while never integrating them into a cohesive whole.
Nothing wrong with being a dilettante, especially if the time spent toward those abandoned avenues direct you toward the things you actually are interested in and want to do, also if the time on those activities was done in place of watching/binging tv/movies or fiction novels, or comic books, or arguing with people on the internet in comment sections,
then it was still time better spent than wasted.
Edit: Even if just a philomath there's nothing wrong with that either.
It's the time that people waste, which they then complain that they're not good at things or others are more successful than they are or they "have no time" to do x, which is the true crime and problem.
Why would anybody want to become a polymath? Are there also people who want to become Authists?
So much of this is conceptually available in Portrait of Dorian Grey, in many ways the portrait allowed him to be a dilettante because without consequences he failed to gain wisdom as he went along changing passions and exploring the world... Fascinating book
Btw.
I was pursuing "polymathy" 3-4 years ago. This was because I never really felt that I can become an expert in anything since I just was not talented enough. That's where I went with the way "Joker of Many - Master of None". Some people did not took my approach seriously but I told them I felt very good with that. And surprisingly I became very good I'd say.
I worked was a roofer, storeman then went to the army as an airborne ranger for four years and learned how to program (C++ / C#) and now I work as a software engineer in a startup while at the same time learned the guitar for 1 1/2 years now and started painting and reading more books to Iearn/understand how to write my own books. I also started to think more in philosophical topics like "the meaning of life" or "what comes after death". Meanwhile I am preparing the Greenland Crossing 2021 with my outdoor buddies to get more skills in exploring/outdoor. While doing so I also setup the base for founding my own company and becoming an entrepreneur.
I just recently stumbled over the book "The Polymath" which finally gave me a term for the "way I learn". This is a huge gamechanger because I finally can name and refer all of this to being/reverting back to a polymath.
I do not call me special - I love the fact that I am just acting like a natural human being. I do not have a high school degree (I have the in germany called "Hauptschulabschluss").
Loving the fact that my polymath-path appeared out of the whole fact that I felt I wasn't able to specialize myself in any field. Best day ever ;)
Hi, your situation and experiences are quite similar to mine. Currently I'm struggling with my inner-self, would be great to have conversation with you. Do you mind to talk over wa/fb/email? Thanks before
@@sandriaas try to contact me on youtube private message (if that is possible)
well done
You can become a Jack of All Trades, Master of All...to me that’s what a true Polymath is. But it needs to be a natural desire and not forced.
You have no idea how much i get you 😂 In the end, it's a lifestlye and a way of seeing life
My grand obsession is deep diving into a no. of different subjects. I believe most people have never met anyone who has committed a significant amount of their time to learning and perfecting one thing, and how awesome that looks to those who have the privilege to witness the fruits of their labor. For instance, when I attended college, I was a music major, and after seeing the chairman of the piano department play, I was floored. I honestly didn't know anyone could be that good at ANYTHING. Then he completely turned my world upside down when he said, 'I have friends much better than I am - and I wouldn't even count any of them as one of the very best in the world." That was 1998, and it started me down a path of being obsessed with pursuing and witnessing greatness. I would like to not only be THAT competent at multiple things. To me, there is no other option in life.
"The cage of specialization" - well said!
So glad I came across this talk. I am a lawyer but constantly finds myself interested in many other things or streams of learning often times unrelated to my chosen profession. I thought I was a bit weird because one can't be a "jack of all trades" OR so I was taught my whole life. Good to know that I am not weird at all but only normal as a polymath. If only we all could live out our God given potential.
I came here after a similar talk “Why some of of us don’t have one true calling”. I consider myself toward the dedication side, but never connected the dots of what I was learning which made me neither curious nor actively learning. Thank you for expressing the other side of this too. ♥️
This is why I'm intrigued by the anti-aging field of science. If I could live long enough, I could pursue everything and know everything. I would die satisfied.
Only to learn that after 80, the govt. Takes away your property, declares you deceased, and a strange guy named Gulliver visits your town
This talk has singlehandedly answered all the questions I had about my learning behaviour.
I am so grateful I came across this!
Wow, this made me feel better. Welcome to my channel, polymath. History, geography, literature, science, math, games, astrology, theater, and more.
Bob The Polymath The fact you have put astrology and science in the same sentence....
@@advayiyer6456 There's actually some interesting scraps of evidence for some of the general principles of astrology. Not enough to decide to base a life off of, imho, but interesting to ponder.
@@KindlingKatalyst Perhaps, I have yet to see this evidence, could be the case though...
@@advayiyer6456 I Googled it one time. Like I said, not super compelling but worth browsing.
I've been looking for something like this for years.
Me too!
Yes how is it working for you today 😊
@@uhohotdog3483 It's funny how synchronicities work and that you reminded me of this today.
At the time I wrote my last comment I was halfway through nutrition school. Before that I was in computer sciences and electronics.
Today i'm at my masters in educational psychology trying to mind the gap between technical knowledge and applied knowledge within health sciences.
I was already aware of the concept "polymath". However, my boy Ben here gave it a whole new meaning for me with his sense of it and I went many places after that inspiration.
I didn't even remember this video, but he did remind me of what being a human means. That which can read between lines.
Thanks for asking, I enjoyed writing this.
@ Yes timing is another great mystery personally I believe it's not random, may we both have more depths of peace on R accomplishments now that we have a label of sorts of which stirs R multiple passions 😀
Brilliant talk ! Thank you for shedding light on what I’ve been experiencing for years
again, a Renaissance Man is one who “masters” multiple skills and not one who has mere knowledge of a field. I’ve read 5 neuroscience books but that doesn’t make me a neuroscientist/master of neuroscience. I’m a trained architect, I paint, write haiku, short stories and do many other things. I’m a dilettante. I dabble with these thing but will never master them. It’s impossible. The depth of knowledge on most subject today it is incredible.
If you can never truly master anything, then the concept of a polymath doesn't exist.
"Jack of all trades, master of none, but better than a master of one."
the base is everything when it comes to knowledge... everything stemmed from something.
@@ryanpayton3812 I like to say Jack of all trades, master of some.
I break your koka Heki
You are giving an extreme example. While being an Architect you can also be a programmer, I bet you know how create 3D models and you probably know how to use Blender, you can easily be a teacher, you can already draw throw in some photoshop. Before you know it man you're already a polymath
I really enjoyed watching Ben's Ted Talk, especially since he was so calm, not hammering any information into our heads at a breakneck pace.
The ideal of the Polymath/Renaissance person being able to see more connections and therefore solve bigger problems than anyone in the world also sent chills running down my spine multiple times!
At the time, I'm learning to draw, which I intend to combine with music (first piano, drums, and singing) and storytelling to create 1) stories of moral exemplars (truly great and virtuous people) with practical life lessons, 2) illustrate those stories through drawing/illustration, 3) create songs out of the stories, and 4) play the music myself. All of this serves my purpose of becoming a better person and helping others flourish.
I'm curious: If you were to live 5 other lives, what do you imagine you would want to be? (Me: 1) Philosopher, 2) Musician, 3) Architect, 4) Illustrator (drawing), and 5) City founder and leader.)
And which of those 5 paths can you start pursuing with 30-90 minutes of practice or study each day?
Can't wait to see your answer!
Frode
1)Philosopher 2) Journalist 3)Interpreter 4)Film maker 5)Writer :)
@Antonio Giuseppe That's 6 and you're European so languages don't count ;)
1. Game designer and programmer
2. Car Designer
3. Character Artist 2d
4. Character Artist 3D
5. Storyteller
Infantryman
Police Officer
Firefighter
Paramedic
Doctor
1. Scientist
2. Artist
3. Writer
4. Engineer
5. Architect
Thanksss Benny! Can't believe took 7 years to find this!🎄
3:52 curiosity = deep deep understanding, bit broke 💔 focus on Loveee. Do best we can with what we Know, remember 😂
"A jack of all trade is a master of none, but often better then a master of one"
Maybe then the satisfaction of curiosity comes out from a specific aspect of Necessity who is the mother of all great endeavours in life.
Majority of the successful inventors, artists and scientists are not that way because they excell in their field more than others, but because they also have a highly specialised knowledge in something entirely different, so they are combining the two sets of knowledge and ways of looking at the problem. Their new discoveries are not coming from their genius or originality, but from connecting the dots from multiple fields.
Also, knowledge is power. Power they don't want us to have. This is why the schools are the way they are. Becoming smarter is a great way to focus your rebellion against them. I am self-educating using the internet to become the smartest I can be.
really comes effortless to exist this way and a preference through its passion And if you know how the heart works, that is the strongest driving force you can have in your heart It just wants to keep going forever because it feels so good It really takes no commitment Because I’m not applying any force To make this happen There’s no pressure it’s the state of awh I’m thinking from discovering something new to your existence
I have literally only learnt of this term today. Weird as I pursued architecture since it can incorporate many fields of study I find interesting; art, engineering, geography, philosophy, history and politics . I also consider paying guitar as my only hobby. Guess I have been a polymath without realising it. Neat.
Sounds exactly like me, but i play bass. So yea i guess im cooler
Every human by nature is a generalist. Being a polymath on the other hand, requires deep understanding and skills of multiple subjects
@@9TDJ @davie504 is that you
@@9TDJ checkmate
Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back
Curiousity skilled the cat
Mechack but the satisfaction brought it back
I like "Curiosity killed the cat but that's a different species." From Atomic Habits.
And to think I’ve habitually criticized myself for going off on learning tangents for no apparent reason. You say it’s ok. 😊 Thanks!
I wish more people see ted talks like this.
A polymath is the academic version of a jack of all trades but master of none. Most of the great leaps in science have we done by specialists in their field.
i knew all that all along but in the back of my head now i have words and arguments for what I felt in my guts.
When a new area of interest catches your attention, how do you seamlessly transition without losing focus on your current projects?
We all get pulled in multiple directions-how do you keep it all balanced and moving forward?
Comment below with your advice, tips, and strategies to help a fellow polymath on their path!
KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
I really enjoyed this talk. I learned to follow my polymath tendencies after I graduated from university.
i play guitar , professional painter , play flute , sing , make sculptures and a professional stock trader . I'm learning how to rap now . just be very curious about what you are learning and look at it from a 3 dimensional perspective , best and the very important part is trying out the things you learn , it will make you more curious .
This guy was brilliant, Funny, & Jack of all trades.
People are specialist because it is what is good for industry, capitalists, and the wealthy. However, this is against our nature. From the time we are toddlers, we are naturally curious and possess an inherent desire to explore and discover. It is who we are..
This man is so grounded. Thank you!
Thanks Ben. Thanks You tube. Thanks TED.
Waqqas Ahmad in "The Polymath" described things very similar to this talk. I think we have a very common ground for the need of reverting back to be Polymaths. Which makes it easier for me to accept (which I never was in doubt).
Necessity is about reaching the minimum whereas polymath reaches for the maximum.
I really think people can all be polymaths, but I sort of disagree that we are all born polymaths. We have a tendency to learn everything when we are young, but that is because 'things' are novel. Yes as we get older people put our ambitions down, but there is a certain level of grit that only people who are meant to be true polymaths have. I find myself to be one of those people, I can't stand the idea of doing just one thing with my life. I may have one big goal, but not only does it take me doing many occupations to get there, but also I have little micro goals on the way. IT is the mindset behind a person that deems them a Renaissance person.
The world is always novel. You've convinced yourself that you "know" reality. Science hasn't even begin to touch on this. Everything is still Miraculous and Novel.
@@thugiemaximum You completely missed the point of the comment. I never "convinced" myself of anything. Polymaths are the people who go after all the novel stuff, and I was saying not to limit yourself to one or two things.
Is that the grit you were talking about? (;
Its not about what you learn, but its all about learning itself
The majority of the speech is about allowing curiosity and a path towards polymathy in your life.
Once you drive away from this idealistic approach, you realize the reality is not that simple. Once you pass the age of 25..you'll notice you do need to make money. You can't just dabble in things. You have to be good at them. When there's a high demand for specialized skills...your wide array of skills better is developed enough for companies or individuals to be willing to give you money.
I'd advise you to focus on the following stuff to maximize your potential of becoming a polymath:
1) Knowledge management. Doesn't help if you switch between domains and have to start over again. Minimize knowledge loss
2) Goal management. Doing many different things is fine. But you need some top level goals that give you direction
3) Understand multi-passionate personality types deeply (why you like doing many different things, why you drop interests, your reward system)
4) How to make money. At some point you'll have to. And making money fuels your polymathy when you can reinvest it.
Created a whole course on this but this comment hopefully is a good starting point for you :)
Why am I crying, i don't usually cry at videos
I didn't choose to become a polymath. Growing up without much, I learned how to do because I couldn’t pay someone to do it for me. In that I would learn as much as i could about a subject so that I could do it myself and save money. I was "diagnosed" by my gp over ten years ago when she called me a resonance man because of my working knowledge in many subjects. I've worked in multi career paths and am starting another after recently going to Unniversity all the way through to an MBA. I believe that it has something to do with the fact that I am an INTJ sigma male.
Interesting metathesis: "resonance man" for "Renaissance man". Some may see that as a malapropism, but I think it is a Freudian slip that reveals a deeper connection perceived by the subconscious. If intentional, it is genius. If unintentional, it is serendipity.
Thing with being a polymath you keep hearing how you’re jack of all but master of none.
Who really cares, anyway? If they want to be stuck in their cage, while you are seeing the world so much clearer, and are paving the way and helping along other like-minded people, that would be a win-win for me!
Insatiable curiosity!!!
I really enjoyed this, it gave me a sense of normalcy, I wanted to hear more.I have always been bothered by The phrase 'Jack of All Trades, Master of None, I now see that as a key to keeping the cage of specialization locked.
The full quote is “oftentimes better than master of one”.
i pursue to be a polymath.. its a long way. I hope i can find that unique problem first, and be able to solve it.
i love this guy
The 1st time I heard the title 'polymath' I realised I am one. Ok, as an artist I am lazy when it comes to computers, which is nothing more than algorithms! We also live and create these rhythms in music and all the arts. Wanna explain that one to me?
Can you spread some knowledge on making harmonic beats?
You feel good sound lays more in the structure (like Greek drama) or the technical part?
Looking forward to your answer
Polymathy is not about mastering knowledge but about creating it.
Great talk.
Thank you
So spot on, I wish I'd known this years ago.
he looks a bit like Russell Crowe..
The polymath is the expert of "Butterfly effect " 🦋
Love the ted talk!! thank u Ben!
Brilliant and inspiring
I like the term Rogue Scholar. It seems like a more modern way of saying polymath.
I've now gotten the idea what is a polymath..
Every human is a polymath
excellcent video i love it
Rewatching for the second time
Opportunistic learning sure should be entertained but only after you are done direct learning in certain instances when you don't have ample time in hand and the topic you already set your mind on completing is the most important, you have this immediate urge of skipping the unrelated topics you come across while doing the in-depth study of the topic you intended to complete or in other words you refrain yourself from opportunistic learning and learn only what you chose to learn, on the contrary if you go for the former you will certainly end up feeling guilty for we humans have this innate tendency to benchmark the things as productive and worth-doing by its importance, since we already set our mind as for direct learning is important considering the little time we have at our disposal we are bound to feel guilty on choosing what is less important. So we should trust ourself with the fact that the road to learning the same new things we came across while traversing the road to direct learning can be learnt later thereby retaining the importance of both the type of learning.
Your statement triggers several points of curiosity in me. Mind you, I am probably a little more on the opportunistic side of things.
The topics that attract my curiosity are: What are worthwhile goals and how to evaluate them? How do I value and evaluate and or judge myself? What does this have to do with efficiency? I will inadvertatly try to apply the new-found knowledge to everything else I do.
In some instances it will be more efficient to follow that opportunity when it arises - to a degree, dont get carried away ;)
it can help you better understand your goal and the most important aspects for reaching it. More often than not, the curiosity will lead you to discoveries that are connected to your life goals in ways your rational thinking did not understand at that point. the subconscious has way more processing power than your logical mind.
Getting a rough overview of things when the chance arises feels more effortless and you gain efficiency on your central goal. it might give you new perspectives when you feel stuck. pushing it out of your mind and bringing it back later sounds like more of a hassle. just dont get lost by distraction, if you know when to be opportunistic and when to be direct you will get the best of both worlds.
As always, the truth is in the balance.
polymath needs the interest in learning and understanding everything
Let the truth be told that there is no research studies that support the characteristics of a polymath. Therefore, anybody can call themselves a polymath. It's no different than someone saying that there an 'expert' you don't know if that person is an expert but they believe that they're an expert.
I can hear this guy talk forever.
There's a program at the University of Waterloo called Knowledge Integration which is all about this!
That was so insightful
"Is water wet"... can't open that can of worms with the kids.
The real-world challenge is not in being a polymath. You will know if you are one by the time you are in Junior High School (middle school). Followed to the logical final outcome, it results with the polymath never finding an employer which needs all of your skills. Employers have structured the work-environment for cogs (narrow specialists). Most employers have little interest in polymath employees, as it disrupts the function of existing leadership. (A global-big-picture-thinker "polymath" has a way of poking holes in the ideas of leadership, which are often flawed by the limited scope of view they are created under).
I have been fortunate to find myself in Engineering, where I can use about 5-10% of my skill-sets. For the rest of my skills, they get their itch scratched by mentoring others. The other pitfall is when you add the challenge of "credentialism in society", it makes things more difficult. It will never matter how polished your knowledge of Medicine is, if you don't get a degree in medicine. It will never matter how well you master the law, unless you have a law degree and pass the bar exam. Society has reached the point where it "disbelieves" anyone can develop meaningful skills without sitting in a classroom. There will always be untapped brilliant Polymath minds, which are underutilized in our current society. I don't expect this to change.
Society has coined unflattering phrases for the polymaths. They are frequently described as "know-it-alls", or "book worms". It is assumed their depth of knowledge is shallow. Polymaths often alienate those around them, as they have a probability of making those around them feel "less bright". Historians may love Polymaths, but I promise you their contemporaries were less fond of them during their lifetime.
I do wonder why "think tanks" don't make a concerted effort to seek out polymaths. They must have their reasons, but they are likely rooted in their existing employees personal insecurities (and credentialism). Ultimately, a polymath exists to scratch his mental itch, as it will rarely land him in a history book.
Great talk
Thanks
Do Polymaths link with diverse childhood/adolescent experience?
beautiful
My dream is to become a polymath for S.T.E.M!
Get working.
That is my dream, Aswell. How's your progress?
Elon
LOVE IT
00:50 This guy should do stand up
just a reminder Di Vinci had a body of a greek god!
Yes, thank you!
Where the entp's at?
polymath aka jack of all trades
Heinlein reference 00:45
Which work?
What specifically is the difference between opportunistic and directed learning? I don't understand.
i couldnt watched the video but guessing opportunistic means taking other paths along the way that peaks your interest even though they arent in the most direct path to reach your goal. in other words being open to other possibilities.
I think hes saying opportunistic learning is more about learning whats at hand without the intentions of using that knowledge specifically to stay within that field. Like going to a mechanic to get your car fixed and learning about the process in which to fix it...you're not really doing it to become a mechanic or work on cars yourself as a profession (that wasn't you reason for entering the shop), you're learning out of sheer curiosity and a fascination on how things work.... while directed learning would be learning one thing to be more specialized like learning how to fix a car to get a better understanding of vehicles so you can go onto becoming a mechanic which could help when studying the field of engineering... thats less about curiosity and more on necessity (you would want to know how to fix cars if your end goal is to work on them for a living). Thats what I got from this anyways, if im wrong im open to correction... hope this helped.
I Polymoth, I mean Math, Polymath, I Polymath.
How to be a polymath: free time. How to get free time? Stocks.
I prefer the term Autodidact
Sounds like ADHD in a nutshell
Boo
Wow i just discovered this word and it describes me
This guy sounds like Matt Damon.
Born and Raised in Michigan!?
Would have liked it twice if I could 😍👍👍
Who is Mike ?
Good
Farmers are polymaths ...
90Thorium232 power in molten Fluride salt reactor. Next 10,000 years of power after whale oil lamps
a job in itself has many facets so really... you can be a "polymath" doing "one thing" that involves a lot of parts that make a whole
hell yea
Made me feel normal , thank you !
Juan Valentin' Right :) my thoughts as well.
Drake from the game Uncharted is supposed to be a polymath.
Leonardo DaVinci and Benjamin Franklin. Ah the ENTP and suspected INTP at work
08:07 - 11:07
I wonder if this is the type of stuff Jack Stratton watches
I’m the polymath of classified stuff and NDA’s future technologies what your population calls.
Polymaths who haven't taken public speaking be like
1.5 speed necessary
If you think that anybody can be a polymath, than you refer to an Waqas Ahmed Polymathy definition.