The Renaissance Man. A quick glimpse!

Origins of the concept of the Renaissance Man?

The concept of the Renaissance Man originated in the Renaissance era in Italy. Back then, they called this ideal man ‘homo universalis’ which translates from Latin to “universal man” or “man of the world”.

During the Renaissance era, many great thinkers tried to dig up the ancient humanist ideals of antiquity. They tried to revive ancient philosophy and thought processes of great thinkers like Socrates.

One key idea from Renaissance humanist times is that humans should be considered holistically. We should focus on developing our intellect, strength, social skills and spirituality all at once.

What is the Renaissance Man?

A Renaissance Man is defined as a man with talents and skills in cognitive, physical and social pursuits. The term came about during the Renaissance and emerged from the humanist tradition. Traditionally, Renaissance men were excellent philosophers but also strong, handsome and charismatic. We sometimes call a Renaissance Man a ‘polymath’.

Top Renaissance Man characteristics include being highly educated, a gentleman, cultured in the arts, and charismatic. On top of this, he must do all of these things effortlessly.

Top Renaissance Man Characteristics

1. A well-rounded education: Renaissance men are very well-educated. They should be as comfortable talking about mathematics as they are talking about philosophy or sociology. Today, you can get a Renaissance man education by studying a liberal arts degree. With a liberal arts degree, you can (and often are required to) study a variety of subjects from many different disciplines.
2. Self-Taught: Renaissance men are very well educated. They should be as comfortable talking about mathematics as they are talking about philosophy or sociology. Today, you can get a Renaissance man education by studying a liberal arts degree. With a liberal arts degree, you can (and often are required to) study a variety of subjects from many different disciplines.
3. A Free-Thinker: The Renaissance men of history often had ideas that were controversial or even dangerous for their days! Some questioned the authority of the Church or created artworks that went against the trends of the day. They proposed revolutionary solutions to the problems of their days and were bold in promoting their ideas to friends and colleagues in high social circles.
4. Analytical: Renaissance men have enough knowledge that they can analyze concepts from perspectives that their peers can’t. They can apply ideas from their diverse fields to develop their ideas. While a mono-math is only expert in one thing, a polymath (aka Renaissance man) can apply ideas he learned in philosophy to his architecture or engineering pusuits.
5. Multilingual: Men from the Renaissance traversed Italy, France, Spain and Britain to promote their books and artwork. They were, like many Europeans of today, able to easily switch between European languages effortlessly. Their accents were almost perfect in each language they spoke, and of course they would read literature in the language in which it was originally written.
6. Well-Read: A renaissance man needs to be able to discuss the latest literature and news at any moment. In a social event, he may be asked his opinion on politics and he should skillfully and inoffensively show his knowledge. Similarly, he should be able to contribute his thoughts on a new novel in a way that shows he has put a great deal of thought into the topic.
7. Sociable: A Renaissance man should be able to befriend and socialize with people of all social classes. He should be equally as comfortable speaking to the poor as he is to the king. However, Renaissance men tend to socialize with the powerful, wealthy and well-connected. The upper-class love to be entertained by a Renaissance man, who always has a remarkable anecdote to share on any topic.
8. Sportsman: As a well-rounded person, the Renaissance man’s impressive skills do not end with his superior intellect. He is also skilled at higher-class sports such as Polo, Sailing and Rugby. He is well above average on all sports he attempts from Day 1. Today, posh boys’ boarding schools (particularly in England and Scotland) still attempt to breed Renaissance men by encouraging their young men to compete against each other in one or more of these higher-class sports.
9. Brave: While the Renaissance man may express his bravery on the sports field, he is also expected to be able to fight for his honor and his nation whenever the time comes. Many of the greatest Renaissance men in history such as Benjamin Franklin were not just of high intellect, but also were warriors on the battlefield.
10. Handsome: When we think of Renaissance men, we often think of men who are at their physical peak. Renaissance men are expected to have well-sculpted muscles forged through their many physical pursuits. Furthermore, they should be able to effortlessly prepare their hair (both on the head and face!) to complement their chiseled jaw and well-framed body.
11. Well Dressed: A man of class should always dress to impress. When we look back in history, paintings of Renaissance men depict them in the great fashions of the day. Today, you should expect to see a Renaissance man in a three-piece suit, and possibly with a mustache comb in his breast pocket.
12. Charismatic: Perhaps it goes without saying at this point, but the greatest of men from the Renaissance era could charm the socks off of an entire room of swooning women (and men!). While so far we have mostly looked at the Renaissance man’s intellect and physical prowess, we must not forget that the Renaissance man is also very hard to say ‘no’ to once he turns on his charm offensive.
13. A Gentleman: The Renaissance man has not forgotten the lost art of swooning women. He will remember to open doors for ladies, ask a father for a woman’s hand in marriage, and be ever-so-charming when he meets his girlfriend’s wife.
14. Artistic: The great Renaissance men of history were artists whose artworks still adorn the walls (and roofs) of the greatest buildings in Europe. Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci come to mind, I’m sure. Their paintings were not the end of their artistic works: many Renaissance men were great poets and musicians of their time.
15. Cultured: To become a Renaissance man, you need to be comfortable with many different cultures. You shouldn’t just know about your own culture, but also the cultures of the world. When you come across someone from Italy, you should be able to understand their culture and talk with them about it. The same goes for people from France, or China, or anywhere else!
16. Well-Traveled: One way to become cultured is to travel the world. If the cultured men of the 1600s could traverse their worlds on horseback, you shouldn’t have an excuse not to get yourself around the world! You’ll come back with stories of the world to show off your Renaissance man bonafide.
17. An Explorer: While on his travels, the Renaissance man should push the boundaries and search over the horizon. He should go places others dare not. He should fancy his chances against the elements and the cruelest of wildlife. Leon Battista Alberti, another Italian Renaissance man, the ideal Renaissance man “amused himself by taming wild horses and climbing mountains.”
18. An Inventor: Many of the original Renaissance men were inventors. The quintessential Renaissance man, Leonardo Da Vinci, invented primitive models of tanks and helicopters. Today, people who fancy themselves Renaissance men such as Elon Musk and Richard Branson continue to attempt to invent new things such as environmentally friendly cars and spaceships.
19. Entrepreneurial: Some of the greatest modern-day Renaissance men are great entrepreneurs. You may have heard of Charlie Munger, investment partner with Warren Buffett of the investment firm Berkshire Hathaway. Munger considers himself a Renaissance man and Entrepreneur.
20. Effortless: This one is vital. Above, I have listed for you a range of traits of a Renaissance man. They are all individually difficult to achieve – imagine being both a philosopher and mathematician, nerd and jock. Well, to top it all off, you need to be able to do all of this effortlessly. You can’t look like you’re trying too hard or you’ll lose your Renaissance man charm.
21. Humble: Despite being the ideal man – masculine, intellectual, charming and sporting – the Renaissance man cannot brag. He needs to be able to tell stories of himself and his exploits in ways that are self-effacing, relaxed, and most certainly do not give off the impression of arrogance.

Summarizing the key concepts of the Renaissance Man or "Uomo Universale" we have:

• The belief is that humans should embrace all knowledge and try to develop their capacities as fully as possible, across various fields like art, science, mathematics, philosophy, etc.
• The notion expressed by the Renaissance thinker Leon Battista Alberti that "a man can do all things if he will".
• The idea of the "gifted man of the Renaissance" who sought to develop skills in all areas of knowledge, physical development, social accomplishments, and the arts
• Exemplified by figures like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, who excelled in multiple disciplines beyond just art, such as science, invention, writing, and more.

Examples Of Renaissance Men Throughout History

• Leonardo Da Vinci: Is without doubt the most famous Renaissance man from the Renaissance era. Da Vinci became an apprentice to the painter Verrocchio, who encouraged him to explore anatomy and chemistry to become a better painter. While Da Vinci is best known for his painting of Mona Lisa which now hangs in the Louvre, in Paris, there was far more to this Renaissance man. Da Vinci was deeply interested in humanist philosophy, art history, engineering, and science.
• Sir Winston Churchill: Lauded as the savior of the Allies in World War II, Churchill is best known for guiding a war-ravaged Britain through its darkest hours. However, Churchill was more than just a great military mind. He was a politician and two-time Prime Minister of Britain. He was a confidante to the Queen, a novelist and historian, and in his younger days was known to be an adept sportsperson. In his later years, he also proved himself to be a skilled painter.
• Thomas Jefferson: You may best know Thomas Jefferson as an American president. But, like all good Renaissance men, Jefferson tried his hand at many different fields – and excelled at each. He was interested in horticulture, architecture, and archaeology. He also founded a university, showing his deep interest in intellectual pursuits.

And, how to become a Renaissance Man in modern times?

1. Read Books
2. Keep up to date with the news
3. Watch Documentaries
4. Work Out
5. Take up a Sport
6. Take classes in Mathematics, History, Literature, and Philosophy
7. Become an Entrepreneur
8. Take up Painting, Pottery, or a Musical Instrument
9. Learn a New Language
10. Travel the World
11. Do a Liberal Arts Degree

One final thought on this concept is, that becoming a worldly man still comes with social benefits. If you get it right, you'll be loved and respected by your peers. But also, your goal should be to become the best version of yourself.

Sam Larios | Author