It is comforting to occasionally stumble upon the site of another who shares my philosophy, unique as it is. In this case, the site is “Filling a Much Needed Void”, a blog by Hanne Blank. Specifically, I’d like to point readers to the post entitled The Renaissance Woman, which is mostly a summary of many of the major issues that those of us wishing to be polymaths end up facing. Particularly poignant is her attention to the problem of perceived arrogance: doing so many things successfully intimidates people, and is therefore Bad (because many people are apparently very sensitive about their intellectual prowess and view any potential superiority as an affront, arrogance of this sort has come to be regarded as one of the most heinous personal failings, even though it is really a base trait required to advance society in significant ways. Oddly enough, I would say that most polymaths, whom you’d expect to have the most reason to guard their own intellectual self-efficacy, are not nearly so sensitive, instead looking forward to the chance to learn from superior intellects).

Coincidentally, her blog even has the same theme that mine does.

I would anyone looking to eventually become a polymath to read her article. It’s helpful to know the social forces you’re up against in advance.