Despite the existence of this term, a polymath may not necessarily be classed as a genius and certainly a genius may not display the breadth of knowledge to qualify as a polymath. The term seems to be used especially when a Renaissance man has made historical or lasting contributions in at least one of the fields in which he was actively involved and when he had a universality of approach. The term Universal Genius is also used, taking Leonardo da Vinci as a prime example again. It is to note, however, that some dictionaries use the term Renaissance man as roughly synonymous with polymath in the first meaning, to describe someone versatile with many interests or talents, ] while others recognize a meaning which is restricted to the Renaissance era and more closely related to the Renaissance ideals. (The expression Renaissance man today commonly implies only intellectual or scholastic proficiency and knowledge and not necessarily the more universal sense of 'learning' implied by the Renaissance Humanism). ] The related term Generalist is used to contrast this general approach to knowledge to that of the specialist.

When someone is called a Renaissance Man today, it is meant that he does not just have broad interests or a superficial knowledge of several fields, but rather that his knowledge is profound, and often that he also has proficiency or accomplishments ] in (at least some of) these fields, and in some cases even at a level comparable to the proficiency or the accomplishments of an expert. This was possible largely because the collective knowledge of humanity was far smaller back then than it is today. These expressions derived from the ideal in Renaissance Humanism that it was possible to acquire a universal learning ] in order to develop one's potential, (covering both the arts and the sciences ] and without necessarily restricting this learningto the academic fields). Cite web|url=|title=Online Etymology Dictionary|accessdate=|year=2001|author=Harper, Daniel] Other similar terms also in use are Homo universalis and Uomo Universale, which in Latin and Italian, respectively, translate as 'universal person' or 'universal man'. Thus the gifted men of the Renaissance sought to develop skills in all areas of knowledge, in physical development, in social accomplishments, and in the arts.Р В РІР‚СњР В РІР‚С› different name for the secondary meaning of polymath is Renaissance Man (a term first recorded in written English in the early twentieth century). It embodied the basic tenets of Renaissance Humanism, which considered man the centre of the universe, limitless in his capacities for development, and led to the notion that men should try to embrace all knowledge and develop their own capacities as fully as possible. ] This idea developed in Renaissance Italy from the notion expressed by one of its most accomplished representatives, Leon Battista Alberti (1404Р В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†Р вЂљРЎС™72): that Р В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р РЋРЎв„ўa man can do all things if he willР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р РЋРЎС™. The terms Renaissance Man and (less commonly) 'Homo Universalis' (which is Latin for 'a universal man' or 'man of the world') are related, and used to describe a person who is well educated, or who excels, in a wide variety of subjects or fields. The dictionary definition is consistent with informal use, whereby someone very knowledgeable is described as a polymath when the term is used as a noun, or polymath or polymathic when used as adjectives. A polymath ( Greek 'polymathР В РІР‚СњР Р†Р вЂљРЎС™s', Р В РЎСџР В РІР‚С™Р В РЎвЂєР РЋРІР‚вЂќР В РЎвЂєР вЂ™Р’В»Р В РЎСџР Р†Р вЂљР’В¦Р В РЎвЂєР РЋР’ВР В РЎвЂєР вЂ™Р’В±Р В РЎвЂєР РЋРІР‚ВР В РЎвЂєР вЂ™Р’В®Р В РЎСџР Р†Р вЂљРЎв„ў, 'having learned much') The term was first recorded in written English in the early seventeenth century Cite webР В РІР‚СњР В РІР‚С›uthor=Harper, Daniel] is a person whose knowledge is not restricted to one subject area.

Polymath software man