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What is the 'Renaissance Man'?

The concept of ‘Renaissance Man’ (also known as ‘Universal Man’) refers to a person with multiple talents. Someone who has the ability or capacity to do different things. 


The concept was developed by Leon Battista Alberti (1402-1472), an Italian philosopher, author and priest, based on the ideal tenets of humanism that prevailed during the Renaissance period. The philosophy of the period tended to view humans as supreme beings with the ability to do anything and everything. It considered humans as having limitless capacities so preached that they strive to polish themselves with different skills, especially those in the arts and sciences.


Some of the persons considered fitting for this title could be the following:


Leon Battista Alberti (1402-72)


Was a scientist, author, painter, philosopher, architect, linguist, poet, mathematician and a lot more!


Niccolo Machiavelli(1469-1527)


An Italian statesman, author, political scientist, philosopher, historian and diplomat.


Bill Gates(1955-present):


A modern day ‘Renaissance Man’ who’s a philanthropist, writer, computer programmer and a businessman.


Any person who possesses multiple meaningful skills would then simply be given the title.

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