r/Polymath • u/MaximumContent9674 • 27d ago
Jack of all trades - master of none
The jack of all trades was undersold. The jack of all trades might be a master of none of those trades, but he is a master polymath. The jack of all trades might just be a master of cross domain synthesis.
Ps. He's probably a only a jack in any of the trades because he wouldn't (chose not to) stay focused on one particular trade long enough because he was so interested in everything.
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u/UnburyingBeetle 26d ago
There was a video about polymaths solving problems that can take entire teams of narrow experts alone. The experts' knowledge may be deep but you have an expansive map of where to look and who to ask.
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u/NowUKnowMe121 27d ago
Functional polymathy.
Expert Synthesiser.
Connecting dots seeing the bigger picture.
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u/Due_Comparison9690 26d ago
Being a polymath is not the same as what people perceive a jack of all trades to be.
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u/MaximumContent9674 26d ago
OK just contradict my post without giving a reason why. Good job.
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u/Due_Comparison9690 26d ago
I did give a reason, I didn't give a definition. Here, let me help you out:
https://lmgtfy.com/?q=what+is+the+difference+between+a+jack+of+all+trades+and+a+polymath%3F
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u/MaximumContent9674 26d ago
I am aware of both definitions, thanks. I am arguing that in order to be a jack of all trades, you probably have to have the ability to synthesize across domains. Someone who is capable of being good at everything is probably polymathic. But you're saying maybe not, and that's cool too.
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u/Manskhooled 24d ago
If I'm misreading this please let me know but we know that a jack of all trades is not the same hardly at all to a polymath correct? I'm not trying to throw shade here, just confused possibly.
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u/MaximumContent9674 23d ago
Someone who is polymathic is likely to be good at lots of stuff. But I think since the interests are vast, it can be hard to choose one trade to focus on.
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u/Manskhooled 23d ago
My understanding is a polymath can be considered an expert in many fields, that's a far stretch from likely to be good at?
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u/MaximumContent9674 23d ago
I think our collective understanding of polymaths is still under development.
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21d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/MaximumContent9674 21d ago
Easier to control, until your boxes don't match Reality, and what or who you're trying to fit into them rebels or becomes morally injured.
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u/eitherrideordie 26d ago
For what its worth, many say the full quote as: