Subtle Distinctions Between Polymathy and Systems Thinking

One question I get asked often is about the similarity between Polymathic Thinking and Systems Thinking. To a systems thinker, they might look the same. Polymaths, on the other hand, argue that they’re themselves already systems thinkers. Both perspectives have their truth… but there are a few subtle nuances I’d like to dive into here.

Why Polymathic and Systems Thinking Need Each Other

As geopolitics and the climate emergency stir up more turbulence, it feels like we are in desperate need of fresh tools to navigate these fragile terrains. Two approaches, though not exactly new, are still underused – or perhaps just not fully embraced. 

Polymathic thinking is the art of intellectual wandering. It’s fluid, driven by a curiosity that knows no limits. But what makes it so powerful? Polymaths, today’s Renaissance minds are the ones who draw connections between fields that seem worlds apart. Architecture and mathematics, psychology and technology, art and science. The strength of polymathic thinking lies in its ability to generate emergent ideas – those that arise from the collision of disciplines or domains. It is inherently creative, often leading to paradigm shifts and the birth of entirely new fields. Yet, for all its brilliance, polymathic thinking can sometimes lack structure. 

Systems thinking, by contrast, is the science of structure and interrelationships. It is analytical, methodical, and focused on understanding how the parts of a system interact to create the whole. Systems thinkers excel at mapping feedback loops, identifying leverage points, and diagnosing problems within complex systems. They are the cartographers of complexity, drawing detailed maps that reveal the hidden dynamics of ecosystems, economies, and organizations. However it has it's own hidded traps: systems thinking can sometimes become rigid, overly reliant on existing models, and blind to the creative possibilities that lie outside its structured frameworks.

When used in isolation, both approaches have limitations. Systems thinking, without the breadth of polymathic knowledge, risks becoming siloed and incomplete. It can map the terrain but may miss the richness of the landscape. For example, a systems thinker analyzing climate change might focus on carbon cycles and energy systems but overlook the cultural, psychological, and ethical dimensions that are equally critical to solving the problem.

Polymathic thinking, on the other hand, can lack the rigor needed to translate creative insights into actionable solutions. A polymath might envision a revolutionary new approach to education, but without the structured thinking to implement it, the idea may remain just that – an idea.

The true magic happens when these two approaches are combined. 

One classical example would be the challenge of sustainable urban development. A polymathic thinker might draw on architecture, ecology, sociology, and economics to envision a city that is not only environmentally sustainable but also socially vibrant and economically resilient. A systems thinker would then map out the interrelationships between these elements – how housing policies affect transportation systems, how green spaces influence mental health, and how economic incentives drive behavioral change. Together, they create a vision that is both innovative and implementable. But imagine these two approaches being applied by one and the same versatile person, a multi-specialist! This is where it gets incredibly impactful.

The Polymathic Roots of Systems Thinking

What is most interesting (and indeed logical) is that systems thinking itself was born from polymathic minds. It’s true. The very foundations of modern systems thinking were laid by remarkable polymaths who transcended disciplinary boundaries to explore the universal principles of organization and interconnection.

Take Alexander Bogdanov, for example. A Russian polymath who introduced the concept of systems thinking in his three-volume work Tektology: Universal Organizational Science (1913-1928). Fascinating for that time, Bogdanov imagined a unified science that could apply the same organizational principles to social, biological, and physical systems – essentially foreshadowing what we now recognize as modern systems theory.

Or consider Ludwig von Bertalanffy, an Austrian-born biologist with a background in philosophy and art history. He developed General Systems Theory, aiming to uncover the common principles that govern all living systems. What if we could apply those principles to every system we encounter?

Then there's Norbert Wiener, a true polymath – mathematician, scientist, engineer, philosopher, and a man fluent in ten languages. He founded the field of cybernetics, which explores self-regulating systems and laid the groundwork for modern computing. 

How fascinating is it that these polymathic pioneers didn’t just create systems thinking? They showed us that an integrative approach to knowledge can reveal the deep interconnectedness of the world.

Polymathic and Systems Thinking in Action

Have you noticed how this synergy is already reshaping industries worldwide? In healthcare, polymathic thinkers are integrating insights from biology, psychology, and technology to develop personalized medicine. And Systems thinkers are designing healthcare systems that make these breakthroughs accessible to everyone.

In education, polymathic educators are combining neuroscience, art, and technology to craft immersive learning experiences. But what about the structures that support this new learning? Systems thinkers are reimagining school frameworks to nurture these transformative pedagogies.

Even in business, the fusion of polymathic and systems thinking is driving innovation. Leaders who think across disciplines – understanding finance, operations, design, psychology, and technology – navigate the complexities of the modern marketplace better. They see the big picture and the fine details, the creative possibilities and the practical constraints.

John Chambers, former CEO of Cisco Systems, exemplifies this approach. In his book Connecting the Dots, he describes how he intuitively applied systems thinking, gathering data from diverse sources, stepping back to spot patterns, and zooming in on key drivers. Isn’t this ability to switch between breadth and depth (between the big picture and the details) what defines both polymathic and systems thinking?

Steve Jobs, another iconic leader, famously compared this ability to viewing a city from the 80th floor – seeing the whole landscape and how its parts connect. Isn’t that exactly what systems thinking is about? The ability to zoom out and see the interconnectedness of everything. But it’s also a perfect metaphor for the polymathic mindset – curious, creative, and always connecting the dots across diverse fields.

Systems Thinking as a Polymathic Skill

In fact, it get's even more interesting! Systems thinking can be seen as a natural extension of polymathic learning. When you learn multiple languages, for example, you begin to recognize common grammatical structures and develop strategies for acquiring new vocabulary. Similarly, systems thinking allows you to perceive general principles in everything new and to think in wider contexts. It is a skill that many polymathic professionals develop effortlessly through their habitual exploration of diverse subjects.

Tools For The Century of Complexity

As Stephen Hawking predicted, the 21st century is becoming the century of complexity. The emerging field of complexity science, which grew out of systems theory, studies how large numbers of components interact to produce emergent behaviors. This field is inherently transdisciplinary, drawing on insights from physics, biology, computer science, sociology, and more. It is a domain where polymaths thrive, as it requires the ability to integrate knowledge from diverse fields and to see the world as a dynamic, interconnected whole. I remember my excitement when I learned about the existence of Santa Fe Institute, which founded in 1984 by a group of scientists frustrated with the narrow disciplinary confines of academia. They wanted to tackle big questions that spanned different fields, and they felt the only way these questions could be posed and solved was through the intermingling of scientists of all kinds: physicists, biologists, economists, anthropologists, and many others. A house of polymathy!

In this context, systems thinking is a priactical (though complex) way of seeing the world. It is a lens that reveals the hidden patterns and connections that shape our lives. And for polymaths, it is a natural extension of their curiosity and creativity – a way of making sense of the complexity that surrounds us. 

It is in the interplay of these approaches that we will find the solutions to the most pressing problems of our time.