Don't mess with the Renaissance Man

The concept of the Renaissance Man, otherwise known as a Polymath, Universal Man, Uomo Universale, is a refreshingly direct and powerful one for people who wish to become more well-rounded, or expert in a variety of areas. Simply put, a Renaissance Man is someone who excels in various, usually unrelated, areas. Think Aristotle, Da Vinci, Franklin, Goethe.

The need for Renaissance Men is pulled by two opposing forces. Increased specialization makes it much more difficult to excel (or be proficient) in one field, much less two or more. However, there is a need for interdisciplinary folks who can take the wisdom and knowledge of one field and apply them to other disparate fields of study.

Typically, the Renaissance Man excels in arts, sciences, and physical activities. In Western history, the first person to be attributed such a title is Leon Battista Alberti (1404-1472), who was an author, poet, architect, and artist. However, there were many Renaissance Men before him, including Aristotle.

I see the Renaissance Man as someone who:

Physical: is proficient at athletic activities; can defend oneself, family and country; is in excellent health.

Artistic: creates poetry, music, and literature; unique life’s path; speak at least one other language; excellent vocabulary.

Scientific: understands and contributes to the sciences.

Knowledge: is studied in and can discuss philosophy, wisdom, and other cultures; has
experienced the great works (books, works of art, music) of all time; intense curiosity; often understand the causes of things.

I will further outline my views on what a Renaissance Man should be able to do in another article.

Probably the first book written on the concept of becoming a Renaissance Man is by Baldassare Castiglione. His book, The Book of the Courtier, was written in 1561, but it very relevant today. It’s certainly not politically correct, and adapting it to modern life might require some work, but it’s nearly spot-on, and is well-worth reading for those interested in achieving Renaissance Man status. It is available on Google Books.