Re: Insular Assumptions About Intelligence

[zentara]

Everyone says that there is no such thing as the Reniassance Man anymore, and I agree with them.

I disagree with that. While it's true that this is the Age of Specialization, and most of us are educated to differentiate their experiences, there are a few who still integrate. Seldom seen, they hide under rocks, scared of all the specialists running around with their blinders on, who claim to know the answers to life's persistent questions. :-)

[Clovis_Sangrail]

Well, I might go so far as to agree with you if we change the definition of 'Reniassance Man' a bit. Originally the term meant someone who knew (or had at least studied) all the formal knowledge that there was to be known. I say that's just impossible these days, and it's been impossible for decades.

Maybe the "Reniassance Persons" of today are those who grasp the overall shape or rough outlines of the whole of Human Knowledge, and can drill down to the particular area of knowledge that they need/want.

[zentara]

and can drill down to the particular area of knowledge that they need/want.

That's the way I do Perl. :-) Things change so fast now, that it is relatively useless to stuff your head with too many details. You need to get the big picture, then drill down as you say.