W5P2: Burdens of Creativity

Polymathy, the ability to excel in skill, knowledge, or talent, across multiple different areas, is driven by curiosity and creativity. Although there are quantitative benefits to pursuing success in these multiple areas, there are also important qualitative negatives to acknowledge. Firstly, there is increased effort required to obtain varied skill sets. It takes significantly more work to master two disciplines than it does to master one. Those who have the dedication to master multiple areas are also usually out of place in the specialization driven-society observable in the modern world. Most jobs are not designed to cater to a person with multiple interest, thus, polymaths can often feel constrained by traditional employment.

Also important to note, is that in the past, polymaths have been far easier to come across. During the renaissance, there was quite simply less knowledge to obtain, so it was relatively easy to "master" everything known about a subject. Groundbreaking discoveries were more common, and jobs were less specialized, granting polymaths like Leonardo Da Vinci the freedom to express their curiosity and potential to the fullest. Nowadays, there is enough information that it has become almost impossible to learn everything about a single subject, let alone multiple. In diverting their focus, today's interdisciplinary learners are less likely to truly master any one subject. Each pursuit serves as a minor distraction that detracts from the individuals ability to make significant impacts in a single field. Still, interdisciplinary learning is advantageous because it builds a creativity that drives individuals towards success and allows for unique problem solving capabilities.