To self-identify as a polymath would be an utter nonsense disproving the claim.
This claim was made in a discussion on RG. According to the OED, a polymath is "a person of wide knowledge or learning." In some cases, people seem to consider polymaths as being experts on a lot of topics, but that isn't universal. Given the basic definition, it doesn't seem like it is absurd to be able to recognize oneself as a polymath, but perhaps there's more to it than that.
Good question.
Where I lived & studied in Great Britain, my English friends did not use the word "polymath" but used the phrase "jack of all trades" which may be used for praising a person or for making fun of a person if the phrase is extended to " jack of all trades but masters none".
I used to live near my English university and there was a person called Robert . When any flat, in that vicinity called Bob "as they used to name him" by phone, that meant they had few machines or appliances which need repairing " e.g. fridge, washing machine, cooker, conditioner, TV…etc.". I saw him working, on the spot, and he was amazing in finishing the jobs properly in a short time and ,of course, he received payments. Persons, like Bob, are rare as far as I observed in my life.
In the academic world, one of my professors there, was called a "moving" encyclopedia by me & my classmates agreed about that. When he lectured, he used to place a small paper in front of him containing short headlines but he used to elaborate in great depth & precision. I checked the information, he used to give, by consulting references and he was right all the time! Scholars, as that professor, are also rare.
Assume that you or me are polymaths "in the positive sense". It is better not to identify ourselves as such & it will be more appropriate to leave others describe us if they are scientific, impartial, and honest.
Nizar Matar, thank you for your contribution. I'm still not sure what argument you are using against self identification of being a polymath. Is it really all that different from self identifying as an expert on a topic?
Daniel Goldman , Due to humbleness or modesty, it is better to let others judge you as a polymath. Usually, people do not like the person who praises himself/herself. Many times, students criticized negatively those lecturers, who praised themselves, in front of me. Every time, I had to defend my colleagues "on university-scale" !!
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