Polymaths are defined by their breadth and depth of knowledge across multiple fields. However, one of the most crucial traits of a polymath is embracing what they don’t know. From a young age, many of us are taught that knowledge equals intelligence, and admitting ignorance is a sign of weakness. This mindset limits curiosity and stifles growth. But true polymaths thrive by accepting the unknown and using it as fuel for intellectual discovery.
In “ANYONE CAN TRAIN TO BECOME A POLYMATH“ by Dr. Lev Goldentouch and Prof. Anna Goldentouch, the authors emphasize that intellectual growth begins when you realize that nobody knows everything. By embracing ignorance, polymaths continuously seek to learn, ask questions, and challenge assumptions—traits that are foundational to their success.
Historical Icons: The Polymaths Who Embraced the Unknown
History’s greatest minds were not defined by the knowledge they already had but by their willingness to question the world around them. Albert Einstein revolutionized physics by challenging classical ideas of motion. Thomas Edison, renowned for his inventions, learned from thousands of failed attempts. Even Isaac Newton, a giant in the scientific community, humbly acknowledged, “I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore…whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.”
These polymaths were successful not because they had all the answers but because they embraced their ignorance and sought out the answers through relentless curiosity, experimentation, and intellectual humility. The key to polymathy lies not in knowing everything but in questioning everything.
The Psychological Barrier: Why Admitting Ignorance is Difficult
Despite the benefits, admitting ignorance can be difficult due to social conditioning. In traditional educational systems, the focus is often placed on providing the right answers instead of promoting the process of inquiry. Children, especially, are rewarded for giving correct answers and are sometimes discouraged from asking “I don’t know” questions. This stifles the natural curiosity and creativity essential to becoming a polymath.
This is compounded by the idea that adults, particularly parents and teachers, are seen as all-knowing figures. When a child is taught that adults always have the answer, it becomes harder for them to feel comfortable asking questions or admitting they don’t know something. The result is a cycle that discourages curiosity and intellectual exploration.
Encouraging Curiosity: The Role of Parents and Educators
As parents and educators, we hold a critical responsibility in breaking this cycle. Promoting intellectual humility—the ability to admit when we don’t know something—is key to developing a polymathic mindset. Here’s how we can create an environment that encourages curiosity:
- Model Intellectual Humility: Demonstrate that it’s okay not to have all the answers. Instead of pretending to know everything, say, “That’s a great question! I don’t know, but let’s figure it out together.”
- Celebrate Questions, Not Just Answers: Encourage children to ask open-ended questions like “Why?” or “What if?” Reward their curiosity, not just their ability to memorize facts.
- Reframe Failure as Part of Learning: Teach children that failure is not the end but the beginning of learning. Most breakthroughs come after several failures, and understanding this helps develop resilience.
- Encourage a Growth Mindset: Let children know that intelligence is not fixed. It’s developed through effort, persistence, and—most importantly—curiosity.
By focusing on learning over being right, we can cultivate polymaths who see curiosity and exploration as lifelong pursuits.
Teaching Children to Embrace Uncertainty and Curiosity
To build a polymathic mindset, children need to learn that uncertainty is an integral part of knowledge. Here are a few strategies for teaching children to embrace the unknown:
- Use Historical Examples: Share stories of famous polymaths—like Galileo, Leonardo da Vinci, or Marie Curie—who faced adversity, failure, and doubt before achieving greatness. Show how these individuals used their curiosity to learn from the unknown.
- Encourage ‘I Don’t Know’ Moments: Make it a habit to reflect on things we don’t understand. For example, around the dinner table, you might ask, “What’s something we don’t know yet but would love to learn?”
- Promote Exploration: Instead of answering all questions immediately, guide children to explore resources like books, the internet, or experiments to find their answers.
- Foster Open Dialogue: Create an environment where children feel safe to express their doubts, ask questions, and debate ideas without fear of judgment.
- Gamify Learning: Introduce a “Question of the Week” challenge, where everyone shares a curiosity and then collectively researches the answer. This keeps learning fun, engaging, and dynamic.
The Power of Uncertainty in Learning
Uncertainty should not be viewed as a barrier but as a gateway to deeper learning and innovation. One of the greatest advantages of polymaths is their ability to thrive in ambiguity and see it as an opportunity for growth. Instead of being discouraged by what they don’t know, polymaths are energized by it. This approach nurtures curiosity and the ability to ask thought-provoking questions that lead to discoveries.
Exercises to Foster Curiosity and Build Intellectual Humility
Exercise 1: The Great Question Challenge
Objective: Encourage critical thinking and curiosity by exploring unknown concepts.
Instructions:
- Challenge yourself or a child to come up with five questions they don’t know but would love to explore. These could relate to science, history, or daily life.
- Research the answers together using books, the internet, or hands-on experiments.
- Reflect on how it felt to admit ignorance and how learning unfolded through curiosity.
- Bonus: Have children ask their parents or teachers questions they might not know the answers to, reinforcing the notion that learning never ends.
Exercise 2: ‘Ask a Silly Question’ Experiment
Objective: Foster creativity and curiosity by asking unconventional or “silly” questions.
Instructions:
- Gather a group and set the rule that there are no “silly” questions.
- Each person must come up with a bizarre or unique question. Example questions might include:
- Why don’t birds get electrocuted when sitting on power lines?
- If time travel were real, what would be the biggest problem?
- Research answers together, discuss any surprising discoveries, and reflect on how this changed the way you view asking questions.
Bonus Twist:
Create a Curiosity Jar, where everyone adds random questions over time. Once a week, pull a question from the jar and explore it together!
Play Your Way to Becoming a Polymath: The Power of Gamification
Learning through play isn’t just for children—it’s a powerful tool for polymaths as well. Traditional education systems often focus on lectures and memorization, but true polymaths learn best through interactive, hands-on experiences that encourage creative problem-solving and exploration.
Gamification—integrating play into the learning process—is one of the most effective ways to develop a polymathic mindset. By engaging in challenges, simulations, and role-playing, learners can tackle knowledge from multiple dimensions, just as Leonardo da Vinci did when blending anatomy with art.
Polymathic Learning Through Play
Quest to Learn, a New York-based experimental school, has embraced game-based learning principles. Students here don’t sit through traditional lectures but instead become historical detectives or engage in game-like simulations that integrate multiple disciplines. This approach has resulted in higher engagement, better problem-solving abilities, and improved retention—key traits of a polymath.
Gamifying learning allows polymaths to learn through simulation, experimentation, and collaboration, creating an environment that mirrors how the most successful polymaths approach learning.
Here’s the Book if You Want to Dive Deeper
If you found this article inspiring and want to learn more about how to cultivate polymathic abilities, grab a copy of “ANYONE CAN TRAIN TO BECOME A POLYMATH“ by Dr. Lev Goldentouch and Prof. Anna Goldentouch. This book offers practical strategies for embracing curiosity, intellectual humility, and play-based learning, helping you on your journey to becoming a polymath.