Greatest Modern Polymaths
Polish-born, British Jewish mathematician, biologist, historian of science, theatre author, poet, and inventor.
Jacob told us the truth: "Science is only a Latin word for knowledge. Knowledge is our destiny."
Again! If one could live with and listen to only one person, it would be Jacob Bronowski.
American inventor, engineer, architect, mathematician, philosopher, and professor of poetry. There is more written about Richard Buckminster Fuller (sadly no relation) in the American 'Who's Who' book than anyone else!
John von Neumann possessed a phenomenal ability to systematically topple the hardest mathematical problems that stumped the world's most brilliant minds. His speed was unchallenged, and he possessed knowledge of a vast number of topics, especially in mathematics. He was "the last representative of the great mathematicians," in the same breath as Euler and Friedrich Gauss. He played a crucial role in the development of computers. The Von Neumann architectural model is present in almost every digital device in the world, and he was one of the first and probably its greatest programmer.
Von Neumann made major contributions to many fields, including mathematics (mathematical logic, measure theory, functional analysis, ergodic theory, group theory, lattice theory, representation theory, operator algebras, matrix theory, geometry, and numerical analysis), physics (quantum mechanics, hydrodynamics and ballistics, nuclear physics, and quantum statistical mechanics), economics (game theory and general equilibrium theory), computing (Von Neumann architecture, linear programming, numerical meteorology, scientific computing, self-replicating machines, stochastic computing), and statistics. He was a pioneer in the application of operator theory to quantum mechanics in the development of functional analysis, and a key figure in the development of game theory and the concepts of cellular automata, the universal constructor, and the digital computer.
American comedian, writer, poet, lyricist, composer, actor, concert artist, and lecturer. He wrote 54 books and about 10,000 songs!
Musician, pilot, world-class fencer, author, filmmaker, DJ...
Radio presenter can also be added to the list.
Welsh Anglican bishop, poet, theologian, and polyglot. The 104th Archbishop of Canterbury. He speaks 11 languages!
The Newcomers
Another polymath who I admire is Professor Carl Sagan (1934 - 1996), an American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, science popularizer, and science communicator in astronomy and natural sciences. In watching his masterpiece television series, Cosmos, I am taken aback by his all-encompassing knowledge!
Palestinian-American author, literary theorist, cultural critic, public intellectual, and advocate for Palestinian rights. He was a founding figure in postcolonialism via his book 'Orientalism.'
This guy astonishes me. He won a European martial arts championship, has a master's degree in chemical engineering, speaks seven languages (though not completely fluently in some), won a Fulbright scholarship to MIT, and oh yeah, did a little acting on the side. Wow.
Great writer and communicator with the ability to explain complex issues in amazingly clear ways and to inspire people to learn more about science and the universe. Sagan was key in drilling through boneheaded politicians to make them realize the danger of thermonuclear war to the very existence of our species.
Best all-time science communicator. Excellent scientist in multiple fields. Easy to understand and inspiring author.
Did a lot for science. Interesting as an amateur philosopher of science.
Guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, astrophysicist with a PhD, mathematician, and animal rights activist.
American comedian, singer, rapper, director, and actor. He was the first black director to win an Emmy for his work on his television series "Atlanta."
Claimed to be the cleverest man who ever lived. A giant amongst pygmies.