Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

Tag: Peter Burke

  • What makes a polymath, a genius, or a man who knows everything?

    JMS Pearce Hull, England, United Kingdom   Fig 1. Einstein playing his violin. From CMUSE via Quora. Public domain. The question posed in this title is of course imponderable and ridiculous, but nevertheless fascinating. Until the Enlightenment (c. 1750–1800), an intellectual “Renaissance man” could have read most of the important books printed. He might well…