The Polymath by Peter Burke
A Cultural History from Antiquity to the Present
A cultural history of polymathy that traces how individuals across eras combined deep knowledge in multiple fields, the social and institutional conditions that made such breadth possible or difficult, and the shifting meanings attached to being learned in many domains. It distinguishes true polymathy from dilettantism and mere versatility, surveys notable examples from the Renaissance through the modern age, and analyzes the roles of patronage, education, printing, and professionalization in shaping opportunities for interdisciplinary learning. Ultimately it argues that cultivating wide-ranging curiosity and cross-disciplinary connections remains valuable and suggests ways individuals and institutions can support polymathic practices today.
- Published
- 2018
- Nationality
- British
- Length
- Unknown
- Pages
- Unknown
- Original Language
- English
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