Forget my cold, forget my work, let’s just play and think a bit. When do you suppose the last living polymath existed? When was it ever possible? When did it become impossible?

polymath noun: a person of wide knowledge or learning. a Renaissance polymath. SOME WOULD SAY JUST SOMEONE WITH CURIOSITY.

DERIVATIVES polymathic |pɒlɪˈmaθɪk| adjective polymathy |pəˈlɪməθi| noun

ORIGIN early 17th cent.: from Greek polumathēs ‘having learned much’, from polu- ‘much’ + the stem of manthanein ‘learn’.

Today there is so much to know that we all tend to become lop-sided with expertise in a very small area. Perhaps a related talent can spread the apparent skill a little further. I can only notice this with artists. I have noticed that a good head for maths is often accompanied by a predilection/talent for music. People good with their hands and eye-hand co-ordination are often artists and or architects or designers. I’m sure you can think of some other examples but not of anyone covering the entire spectrum of current knowledge. Robots to the rescue! We are all about to be products (or victims) of our algorithms.

I have finally come to terms with the overwhelming knowledge of the reviewers and writers I read in the Times Literary Supplement (TLS). I became aware of it the afternoon I was reading my newest issue and was so NOT interested and also so grateful for not feeling compelled to learn more about subjects I had not the least interest in. See? it’s curiosity that leads you on when you simply do not want to know anything about three-toed sloths - or whatever - that is the day you have found freedom. Not that you’re not interested but it can wait. I think that’s called maturity.