This is an interesting read. These people (I choose to call them legends) did a lot of work studying wide, and making inventions, though we could call those inventions crude, I believe they are the bedrock of the modern technology we have today. They opened eyes of other people to possibilities and hence, wider research.
Though some of their theories were later proven wrong, they still held for some time and it was because there was a theory that people found out a better or more accurate one. Their works go a long way to affect our knowledge of science and technology, arts and languages and so on today. If we have no more know-it-alls today, I wonder what will happen in the nearest future as technology expands.
As we approach pico-technology, people will have to know more about a little so as to be relevant rather than knowing little about so much. I hope that makes sense.
Absolutely no one can claim he knows everything in this world. According to scientist, 86% still unknownin this world - 86 Percent of Earth's Species Still Unknown?. Mind you this is only the things that is under the sun, how about those beyond the sun, in the outer part of this world.
There is just so much to be discovered in this world and there's only a little the human brain can comprehend, but generation to generation, knowledge is expanding. A generation takes off from where the previous stops. Growing from macro knowledge to micro until we get to study the science of the tiniest particles and their application.
Yes, it makes sense. We've become quite reliant on being able to find information rather than remember it. Whether that's good or bad, I don't know.
I don't really think it's possible to know it all. There's no denying the wisdom and intellectual capabilities of these men, but knowledge has expanded and sgphifted so much since then it would have been a convoluted mess were it not for specialization.
Specialization exists everywhere- in nature and in education.
The same was group of body cells come together to achieve a tiny part of the full body functions is the same way the man of today can specialize and become a master in a field. Not all of them. I don't believe that.
I've always enjoyed your writing, I learn from it.
They did their own part to help sharpen the world, Newton Law of thermodynamics is still used today.
Modern scientist used that foundation which has been laid by these Know It All genius to further make their research more easily
The most important thing is that they were all thinkers and put their brain into good use. People nowadays tend to be dumb because they don't use their brainpower.