Oh, the evolution!
sharethat is true
shareJust watched a 4 part lecture on infinite jest and google confirms it
David Foster Wallace was a polymath apparently lol.
But the lecture breaks down the hilarious plot of the book in part 3 I believe.
https://youtu.be/y68odHN5UPQ
Leonardo was a curious genius of immense knowledge for his times.
Today it is easy for us to reach his level or surpass him.
But our world is too advanced to take notice of such works.
I know how to do A LOT of things. Like Leonardo.
Difference being, while any of my possible discovery or artwork is hardly going to make an impact, his dated, often erroneous, not that special anymore ideas really constituted progress 500 years ago.
So polymaths still exist. They just don't matter anymore.
Are you comparing yourself to LDV and saying you have surpassed him?
shareEven someone with a 5th grade education probably "knows more" than LDV knew when he died.
shareAnd can easily grasp how humans can fly or how a steam engine works, etc.
shareexplain without researching how a steam engine works
bullet points will suffice
ahahaa are you f'ing kidding me?
I can build you one if you want.
in other words you can't explain how a steam engine works. Thanks
shareOnly if you do not understand shit (like you clearly do).
Isn't it obvious that if I can build you one I can explain how it works, you moron?
Also, next time you want to "bust" somebody, try quizzing them with something harder than a century old, well known technology. How old are you?
You brought up steam engines, not me.
As Einstein is credited with saying: 'if you can't explain something to a five old, then don't understand it."
Apparently, you can't break down the building of a steam engine to bullet items. Your only response is an ad hominem attack.
I've been reading your posts for about two years. You did exactly as I expected.
You sound like a child. Seriously, how old r u?
The fact I have not directly answered your request only means that I owe you shit. My reply is clear enough to address what you implied.
I'm starting to think YOU are the aforementioned five year old and you genuinely wanted me to explain you how the chu-chu moves. I apologize, if this is the case just let me know, I'll be glad to educate you.
In the time of LDV was there a 5th grade? No. And much of what is being taught today is because Leonardo put pen to parchment and made it possible to learn things he studied. Have you ever seen the Codex Leicester? I had the privilege to see it in NYC. His thoughts were original at the time.
The fact that he thought to study all these things makes him a genius in my book. Yes, we know more about the human body, astronomy, and many other things than he did. But it is based on his works.
Stupid argument.
someone with a 5th grade education probably "knows more" than LDV
LDV was a genius. I'm just pointing out "the nature of knowledge." We stand on the shoulders of the geniuses that came before us.
shareDumbass statement of the century - being able to GOOGLE is not a measure of intelligence and certainly doesn't make someone smarter than LDV - in reality it actually means they're DUMBER?
Imagine thinking YOU'RE smart because you need to ask literally everyone else on EARTH for the answers?
Hahahahaha! Talk about irony.
You're probably one of those people who comments on 60's computer videos arrogantly claiming to be superior because you bought a smartphone.
Exactly!
share"You're probably one of those people who comments on 60's computer videos arrogantly claiming to be superior because you bought a smartphone."
I call those devices "stupidphones" because, contrary to popular belief, they don't make anyone smarter. Our society is becoming increasingly dumbed-down and indolent because of over-reliance on these ridiculous electronic crutches. There are some who can't perform simple tasks without implementing some silly "phone app." They shuffle around like zombies staring at the screen and can't put the stupid thing down for even a couple of minutes. They expect instant gratification without exerting any effort; there is no longer any satisfaction in a job well done, or the joy felt after a time of anticipation. There used to be a saying about patience being a virtue; this is disappearing.
I am all in favor of new technology when it is for the betterment of humanity. But we have reached a point to where there is too much of this and it has become detrimental. This is why polymaths are a dying species.
I'm sorry but knowing the things he figured out, or the things that other people figured out, does not make you smarter or even as smart as they are/were. This must be why the modern educational system is producing so many morons.
shareI read a bio of DaVinci, and FYI his overarching genius was a problem for his career. Then as now, the path to success is doing one thing really well, and DaVinci had trouble making a living as a painter because he wanted to do so many things other than painting. He eventually got the Duke of Milan to be his patron, which meant he didn't have to run a studio and produce enough finished work to pay his bills.
There are still polymaths around, but well, they have to earn a living same as everyone else. Look at Mayim Bialik, who may very well qualify as a polymath, she's not a DaVinci, but she's a neuroscientist with a PHD, an actor, a smart-mouthed game show host, maybe more for all I know. Since dukes no longer act as patrons to geniuses, people like Bialik usually have to choose one career path, since a person can't spend half their day acting and half doing research, so she chose the lucrative option of showbiz. And that's probably what most polymaths have to do.
Perhaps the exception is the people who are polymaths, who are brilliant in fields that relate to each other. A person can't be both a top rock guitarist and a top scientist (Brian May is both a guitar hero and an astrophysicist), but a person can be a writer, an actor, and a director, and have a consistent showbiz career even if they use several different skill sets.
Well, that's inter breeding for you.
share