About Rise of the Modern Polymath... and why?
In one word BECOMING. That's what this site is dedicated to fostering in every person willing. Learning, growing and understanding in all fields of life. Embracing the journey of becoming that will never stop and will only get better and more intense as we develop understanding and awareness. I have spent countless hours listening to experts on nutrition, mindfulness, dating, fitness, psychology, philosophy and the list goes on and will continue to grow. I am always searching for something new to learn or an incredible idea or perspective I haven't heard or understood. So my aim is to share the lessons and perspectives of as many great thinkers as I can digest and synthesize.
"Every man I meet is superior in some way, and in that I learn from him" Ralph Waldo Emerson. The funny thing about that statement that may not seem obvious is if every man is an expert in something... well then so am I, so are you. So it becomes our duty to find our expertise to share and teach.
This is a crucial aspect of becoming and a large portion of why becoming is so important? We must learn the value of becoming for ourselves but also for others. We must give back and benefit as many people as possible. Abe Lincoln poignantly expresses how we can become fulfilled by our human need for significance and desire to impact the lives of others.
"Every man I meet is superior in some way, and in that I learn from him" Ralph Waldo Emerson. The funny thing about that statement that may not seem obvious is if every man is an expert in something... well then so am I, so are you. So it becomes our duty to find our expertise to share and teach.
This is a crucial aspect of becoming and a large portion of why becoming is so important? We must learn the value of becoming for ourselves but also for others. We must give back and benefit as many people as possible. Abe Lincoln poignantly expresses how we can become fulfilled by our human need for significance and desire to impact the lives of others.
"Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. Whether it be true or not, I can say for one that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow man, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem."
The best explanation of becoming is the definition regarding Areté. We pursue this not out of duty to others but for ourselves according to H. D. F. Kitto. I believe he points to a profound requirement of intrinsic validation that must exist or it will only be a flash in the pan. Lincoln and Kitto remind us there must be a balance of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation we must do good for others and for ourselves because they are intertwined.
"Areté implies a respect for the wholeness or oneness of life and a consequent dislike of specialization. It implies a contempt for efficiency... or rather a much higher idea of efficiency, an efficiency which exists not in one department of life but in life itself." Robert Pirsig
This explains how we need grow holistically to become a polymath by practicing Areté. Rather than focusing all our efforts on one aspect of our lives we learn how to be an all-rounder and study and master many areas of life instead of specialization. This comes from critical thinking self examination and self driven growth. But growth means change and change can be hard to embrace but if done for the right reasons the possibilities are limitless.
"What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for a worthwhile goal, a freely chosen task" Viktor E. Frankl
So the striving and struggle is the journey of becoming and the choice to cultivate surpassing Areté.
In the search for change and growth I have sought out the greatest minds available for study . Philosophers, teachers, writers, business moguls, creators, and doers. Such men as Ben Franklin, Leonardo Da Vinci, Socrates, Lao Tsu, Ibn Sina, Richard Branson, Tim Ferriss, Steve Jobs and ... All these men have left their mark on the world and in that I learn of them.
We must boldly become ourselves, for ourselves. Cultivating our own excellence and in essence expertise to one day share with those we surround ourselves with. The idea behind this website is to do exactly that. I hope to share my experiences and curate intense content that has forced me to think, question or broaden my awareness and enriched my life. Here's to hoping it does something for you.
"Areté implies a respect for the wholeness or oneness of life and a consequent dislike of specialization. It implies a contempt for efficiency... or rather a much higher idea of efficiency, an efficiency which exists not in one department of life but in life itself." Robert Pirsig
This explains how we need grow holistically to become a polymath by practicing Areté. Rather than focusing all our efforts on one aspect of our lives we learn how to be an all-rounder and study and master many areas of life instead of specialization. This comes from critical thinking self examination and self driven growth. But growth means change and change can be hard to embrace but if done for the right reasons the possibilities are limitless.
"What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for a worthwhile goal, a freely chosen task" Viktor E. Frankl
So the striving and struggle is the journey of becoming and the choice to cultivate surpassing Areté.
In the search for change and growth I have sought out the greatest minds available for study . Philosophers, teachers, writers, business moguls, creators, and doers. Such men as Ben Franklin, Leonardo Da Vinci, Socrates, Lao Tsu, Ibn Sina, Richard Branson, Tim Ferriss, Steve Jobs and ... All these men have left their mark on the world and in that I learn of them.
We must boldly become ourselves, for ourselves. Cultivating our own excellence and in essence expertise to one day share with those we surround ourselves with. The idea behind this website is to do exactly that. I hope to share my experiences and curate intense content that has forced me to think, question or broaden my awareness and enriched my life. Here's to hoping it does something for you.
In the words of Pericles, "What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments but what is woven into the lives of others"