Sure. I've met people who can't even change a tire, much less do anything else. Maslow, a developmental psychologist, talked about a life goal he called becoming self-actualized. To him, that meant learning to use all of your talents to their highest potential.

In a Darwinian world, being well-rounded lends itself to adaptability. Adapt and survive or don't and die. Your choice.

Is there anything we can (or should) do to make us become more versatile? For example, should we all take a class, at least one a year, in some practical subject that we know little about?

Edited by author 11-05-2003 12:29 PM
I've always strived for this ideal, but then again, I've always been a Heinlein fan. One of my autobiographical statements is that I'm a jack-of-all-trades struggling to become a Renaissance Man. Is it shameful to promote my blog here? Oh, well, it's called Asparagus Pee, Gooblek & Other Neat Stuff, and it's over here.

If you vote yes, check out "The Art of Shen Ku: The Ultimate Traveler's Guide: The First Intergalactic Artform of the En Tire Universe" by a guy named Zeke. He's written and illustrated a book on everything you really need to know in order to function well on the planet, or some other one if the opportunity strikes.

It boasts of containing, among other things, * Tying knots and enhancing sex * Numerology and self hypnosis * Herbal therapy and forecasting weather * Curing nosebleeds and removing stains * Kung fu and magic tricks * Isometric and breathing exercises of monks * Self defense and catching fish (amazon.com description)

Gina

No. Some of us will do some of these things well, but few of is will be able to do all these things. It's what makes us unique.

Not at all. A person should learn these things, but if everybody did, we would go back to being cavemen. Specializarion was found by evolution to work better than everyone being a Jack-of-all-trades.

Yes, afterall if we had not ben versatile enough to adapt to different situations,... we might not have lasted this long. so far from being pushed back into cave man like existence, its actually our ability to do all these things that has led us to where we are right now.

the danger lies in over specialisation, which appears to be happening at the moment. you may be very good at what you do, perhpas the best, but the next guy that knows how to plant and grow fruit on a desert island will survive better than the doctor that implants the most beautiful breasts inthe world.

the jack of all trades acumulates what he knows and thinks in a parallel fashion, seqarching for a solution in the unlikliest of places. some thing a specialist might not be able to do as quickly

Yes, too many unable men suck our society dry, just like a bunch of leeches.

I still got some things to do to complete the list though, but I'm on my way http://www.sammy.be

I believe the quote is accurate for myself, my husband, some immediate family members, and a few friends , but overall life would suck if everyone was capable and efficient. It feels good to help people. It feels good to teach someone. I personally enjoy the idiots in our society. No idiots, no Darwinisms.

Yes.

If I take this quote literally, then no, I don't agree. I rarely find myself in situations where the ability to plan an invasion or butcher a hog comes in handy. If I take it figuratively, meaning that a human being should be able to adapt in whatever way is necessary to solve a problem or master a situation, then yes, I do agree – within reason.

Because what Heinlein fails to mention is whether a person should be able to do these things WELL. I think that's an important distinction. Specialization allows for people to choose jobs which fit their individual aptitudes and excel in them. I may be able to plan an invasion, but because I've spent so much time learning how to do a million other things I haven't had time to really concentrate and refine my military strategy skills and, subsequently, my army would sustain heavy losses. And do you really want a jack-of-all-trades to perform surgery on you? I'll take a specialist in that case, thanks very much. She may not be such great company when you're stranded on a desert island, but that situation doesn't seem to present itself as often.

Most definitely agree. This would be a better world if politicians, film stars popes and dalai lamas would roll up their sleeves, pick up a brush & scrub their own toilets.

Most definitely agree. This would be a better world if politicians, film stars, popes and dalai lamas would roll up their sleeves, pick up a brush & scrub their own toilets.

Beautiful.

I agree compleately, humans have infinate potential. anyone can run as fast as the fastest person or just plain do anything as good as anyone else could.