Polymath Power by Michael Araki @ Comprehensivist Wed

Polymath Power: Breaking with the limitations of disciplinary thinking by Michael Araki

People are increasingly unhappy with the idea of spending life as a fixed cog in a machine structured by somebody else. In this context, creativity, innovation and connectedness appear as important elements for a more fulfilling life. In this talk, I present the concept of polymathy not only as the acquisition of knowledge and learning in multiple domains but also as a worldview that can enable us to go beyond the narrowness of current disciplinary, siloed thinking. First, I underscore the importance of polymathic thinking in our increasingly noisy, VUCA world. Next, I explore how polymathy lies at the heart of creativity and innovation, being an important tool to solve problems--big and small--at the societal and at the individual levels. After that, I discuss the overlooked differentiation between the field (the current gatekeepers of knowledge) and knowledge itself. After that, I present some recent findings regarding the measurement and neuroscience of polymathy. Finally, I conclude with possible paths to utilize polymathic thinking to advance understanding regarding ourselves and our world.

Michael Araki’s research interests include entrepreneurship, behavior under uncertainty and polymathy studies. He asks: How people acquire knowledge and utilize their resources and opportunities to produce novel and effective solutions--for themselves, their organizations, and the world? Because of the interdisciplinary nature of these questions, I have developed expertise in different fields such as economics, psychology, entrepreneurship, creativity, polymathy studies, governance and finance.

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Welcome to the series "Comprehensivist Wednesdays". Transdisciplinarity, Renaissance humanism, homo universalis, and Polymathy are some of the ways of describing this approach which Buckminster Fuller called Comprehensivity and described as “macro-comprehensive and micro-incisive”.

July 15: Why Be a Comprehensivist? — a Panel Discussion.
Watch here: https://youtu.be/qjwTy6pGkNA
‪July 22: Louis Sullivan’s Ideas: Art of Expression & Form Follows Function with Architect Sherri Tracinski & Shrikant‬
Watch it here: https://youtu.be/oM8vbQQ-4MU
‪Jul 29: Humanity's Great Traditions of Inquiry and Action with CJ‬ Fearnley
Watch it here: https://youtu.be/8RuHE_3FMUs
‪Aug 5: Optimize Everything: Interview with mathematician Spencer Greenberg on Psychology, society, technology & science‬
‪Aug 12: The Necessities and Impossibilities of being a Comprehensivist‬
‪Aug 19: Polymaths in 21st Century with Angela‬
‪Aug 26: Art Education: Individual & Society with Karen ‬
‪Sep 2: Neuroscience: Why are our Habits so Powerful? with Sanjay‬
‪Sep 9: Four Cardinal Greek Virtues in Visual Art & Mythology by John Roth
‪Sep 16: The Fundamental Role of Story in Our Lives ‬ with CJ
‪Sep 23: Lightening Talks (Talk for 5 minutes about what you are exploring)‬
Sep 30: Polymath Power: Breaking with the limitations of disciplinary thinking by Michael Araki
Oct 7: The Great Conversation & Syntopicon of Mortimer Adler with Shrikant
Oct 14: Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth by Bucky Fuller with CJ
Oct 21: Neuroscience & Mindfulness with Sanjay

See the calendar at https://www.meetup.com/52LivingIdeas/events/calendar/
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