Who is an erudite person, and how to become one?

Erudition - what is it? The word itself came into Russian and some other languages from Latin and means enlightenment, training, erudition and a sharp mind. An erudite person has a deep and broad knowledge of general educational subjects, he is able to think critically and logically, and also fully understands the specifics of his type of activity. For example, an erudite lawyer knows the law deeply and thoroughly, he has extensive knowledge regarding the socio-historical context of the law, and he is also aware of the laws of other cultures. Erudition in a literary work includes knowledge and conclusions covering many different areas.

“From the point of view of banal erudition...”

Taken out of context, the expression became quite popular and was intended to ridicule the excessive overload of scientific terminology in a number of texts. When exactly the phrase appeared, no one can answer for sure. All we can say with certainty is that this funny expression is decades old. The ending of this sentence is as follows: “From the point of view of banal erudition, not every individual is able to ignore the tendencies of paradoxical abstractions.”

Repeating this phrase at a fast pace can be an excellent exercise for those who would like to practice public speaking and improve their rhetorical skills. If you replace complex scientific terms in a sentence, you can clearly see the meaning of the entire expression, namely: “Some people can see meaning in non-existent and intangible things.”

Thus, the word “eruditeness” does not have any special meaning. What was important here was not the meaning, but the form. The first part of the expression can be a great place to start when answering any question.

Intelligence is the basis, the basis for erudition

It is only with a stupid person that no special questions arise. But with a smart person it’s always difficult. And for starters, try to define his intelligence in one word.

For example, a know-it-all who can explain anything is often called an intellectual. Sometimes - an erudite.

For many, these concepts are so close that they are used simply as synonyms. And this is a very common misconception that leads to parental error.

In our information age, erudite children are far from uncommon.

It is they, the beauty and pride of parents, who amaze others with information from a variety of areas: they accurately name the capitals of states, and do not get confused by the numerous brands of foreign cars.

Being placed on a dais, they read long poems at family celebrations, boys delight listeners with knowledge from history, and girls - from the world of fashion, and so on.

Thus, erudition simply replaces intelligence, which is fundamentally wrong.

Intelligence is the general level of development of all human cognitive abilities: perception, attention, thinking, memory and imagination.

Erudition is the breadth of a person’s knowledge in various areas of life. Simply put, a set of information that a person operates with. While intelligence is a tool with the help of which information is obtained, processed, stored and used.

With the help of attention and perception, the child sees and feels something new, thinking and imagination take an active part in processing new information, memory helpfully stores everything newly acquired, and again thinking helps to use what has been received, mastered and stored in everyday life.

So it turns out that it is impossible to be a truly erudite person without developed intelligence. There is no question of what comes first. Intelligence is the basis, the basis for erudition. That is why close attention should be paid to the targeted development of the child’s intelligence.

The question immediately arises: how to do this? Here, various developmental aids will come to the aid of teachers and parents: printed notebooks, lotto, construction sets, printed board games, etc. For example, our notebooks are a unified system for the comprehensive development of a child’s intellect. With their help, children easily master reading, writing and counting skills, confidently navigate the clock and calendar, and generally feel confident in the big world around them.

Cognitive processes require constant training. “Burakov’s Figures” will cope with this task perfectly. This is an effective intelligence simulator, where you will find dozens of exciting exercises of varying difficulty levels. See HERE for more details.

Everything in life is interconnected. The developing intellect of the child begins to search for the necessary amounts of information on its own. As intelligence increases, erudition increases. And for this growth, various children's encyclopedias, atlases, travel, visiting museums and exhibitions, watching educational programs, and reading books are very suitable.

A simple and important conclusion from all that has been said: it is impossible, and indeed impossible, to contrast intelligence and erudition. One depends on the other, one influences the other and pushes for improvement. It is impossible to make a choice in favor of one thing. In general terms, an intelligent person is an erudite intellectual. This is exactly how a child should develop.

Timur Teplenin and Anastasia Balykina

General erudition

Erudition refers to the level of training and volume of knowledge, as well as high quality intelligence and a fairly broad outlook. Not every educated person can be a polymath, but every polymath must be educated. A high level of erudition implies a certain amount of knowledge necessary for his professional suitability. At the same time, knowledge should not be limited to knowledge exclusively in one type of activity; an erudite is a versatile person who has deep knowledge in many other areas of life.

What is erudition?

Erudition (from the Latin ēruditio - learning, enlightenment) - comprehensive education, broad knowledge in many areas.

This term refers to the ability of the human mind to absorb and retain in memory a large amount of information and knowledge in a variety of areas.

Erudition as a personality quality is a unique ability to demonstrate information awareness, erudition, informativeness, orderliness and structure in a wide range of knowledge and deep knowledge in the field of one’s life activity, resulting from education, systematic study and comprehension of various literary and information sources.

Erroneous interpretation of erudition

Many people confuse the concept of erudition and wisdom. But these are completely different definitions. An erudite person, not always wise and “enlightened.” Erudition is nothing more than a simply structured, ordered set of knowledge. Erudition is characteristic of people with a good memory and curiosity.

However, simply reading or hearing information and remembering it is not enough to become an erudite person. It is necessary to consciously “digest” this knowledge, subject it to criticism, compare it with other sources, test it in practice, making sure of its truth. And only then apply it in your life and pass it on to others. To use information in this way requires a high degree of intelligence.

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Erudition - what is it and how to improve it?

An important point is self-education and the ability to find the necessary information, and not just absorb what is taught in universities and other educational institutions.

Absolute erudition - what is it? In simple terms, this is the highest form of knowledge, an unattainable ideal that is still worth striving for. How can you increase your level of erudition?

Firstly, you should not limit yourself to knowledge only in one specific area of knowledge: by expanding our horizons, we force the brain to work more intensely, thereby increasing the level of intelligence.

Secondly, useful recommendations would be reading good literature and serious publications, not the yellow press, visiting all kinds of scientific exhibitions and cultural events. When traveling, you should not only enjoy the local landscapes, but also be interested in the history and mythology of the country you are visiting.

Erudition and its advantages

An erudite person is a learned, well-read person who has thorough and deep knowledge in the field of some science, and is well-rounded.

Erudition gives a person a pass into the world of strong people.
It allows you to convince others that you are a true leader.
A person has the ability to operate with a huge amount of information.
Provides an opportunity to achieve rapid advancement through the ranks.
An erudite person, when he learns some material, constantly strives to learn even more. Erudition is a necessary trait of a true leader.
A person who has a large stock of knowledge can understand both a narrow field and other areas of science. He can easily become a role model and leader.
An erudite person can easily get out of any difficult situation. He easily starts and maintains a conversation.
Erudition allows you to gain respect for yourself and become an authority in the eyes of other people.
Thanks to her, a person is able to create an excellent career.
Erudition allows you to enjoy great success with people of the opposite sex.
An erudite person easily becomes the soul of any company and is always the center of attention.
A person who has a large stock of knowledge learns new sciences much easier while studying at a university. He is admired by teachers and students.
In raising children, erudition comes to the rescue when little ones start asking a lot of questions. A parent who knows the answers to everything that interests children becomes an authority in their eyes.

My husband is a fairly erudite person. He is constantly engaged in self-development, is interested in various areas of life, science, and studies foreign languages. It was with his intellectual knowledge that he attracted me and interested me as a man. A husband easily becomes the life of any company, as he has a large amount of knowledge and easily finds a common language with different people.

How to achieve the title of polymath in the board game of the same name

So, in the course of the study, we found out that the word “erudite” is a noun that can be used both to denote an animate (living) object (to answer the question “who” is an erudite) and inanimate (the question “what”). This means that such different nouns as “game” and “person” can be synonyms for the word.

Since a polymath is someone who is very smart, therefore, in order to become a winner in the game of the same name, you need to form words in a special way, thereby ultimately gaining more points than other players. Their number, depending on the size of the playing field, can vary from two to four people.

Before starting the game, it is advisable for each player to arm himself with a piece of paper and a pen. This is necessary so that at the end of the game you do not forget who owns what word, and, accordingly, who scored how many points and which participant became the winner, that is, the most erudite.

In fact, the Scrabble game is an excellent opportunity not only to expand your vocabulary, but also to practice writing new, and sometimes very difficult, words.

What to do to become a polymath?

The tips below are only a small part of everything that will help on the path to self-development, however, starting small, without exaggeration, you can achieve serious results.

Read a lot. It would seem that this is completely understandable and ordinary advice, but there are quite a few “pitfalls” hidden in it. The usual phrase “read as much as possible” is essentially true, but it is worth distinguishing between truly worthy reading and those books that most people read.
The books that you are going to study must meet such requirements as the quality and depth of the topics covered. For example, if you prefer fiction, take books by Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Goethe, etc. and put aside the works of such authors as Daria Dontsova.
If you are inclined towards non-fiction, make sure before reading that the book is worthy of attention - to do this, simply study the biography of its author and determine from it what he can explain to you.
Expand your area of knowledge. For example, you know world and domestic history well, but have a vague idea of painting, music, biology, etc. You don’t have to rush into a detailed study of all sciences and subjects from the very beginning, but it’s still worth learning something new and highlighting some key interesting points for yourself.

Develop your vocabulary . Nowhere will you find a sensible and erudite person who cannot connect two words and constantly resorts to words such as “in short, like that, in general,” etc.
Be interested in art . Without art, our life would be doomed to herdism, instinctiveness, dullness and routine. Therefore, pay tribute to it, study it, at least for the sake of gratitude for the fact that you are surrounded by truly beautiful and wonderful things.
Go to museums, galleries, theaters as often as possible. At first it may be difficult to grasp all the moods of a particular opera or painting, but later you will find considerable pleasure in looking at someone's exquisite portrait or listening to a particular symphony and really feeling what the author wanted to say.
Meditate. Reflection is what enriches a person’s soul and helps him form himself as a whole and mature person. Think as often as possible, be interested in many questions and try to answer them yourself.

For example, a question such as “What is love?” can be interpreted in completely different ways, and the answers to it from two different people will undoubtedly be different. Look for your point of view on the world through reflection, in this way you will cultivate in yourself what is called spiritual fullness.
Explore the cultures of the world . There are thousands of amazing and original cultures on our planet, contacting which will allow you to find out what the world actually rests on and how it was created.
Know how to listen to other people . Sometimes not only books, art and science can open your eyes to something new, but also another person, communication with whom can be fascinating and mutually enriching.
Of course, not every person is worthy of spending your energy and attention on him, but if you really find a comprehensively developed and wise person, do not be afraid to listen to him and learn something for yourself.

Learn to abstract yourself from the Internet , television, advertising and other distractions of modern life, aimed more at the degradation of society than at its development. For that matter, watch only those programs that are not aimed at entertainment, but at enriching and cultivating some useful foundations.

If you decide for yourself that you want to educate yourself as an erudite and wise person, remember that quality is always important, not quantity and speed.

Be prepared for the fact that achieving a certain level of your knowledge will require a lot of time and effort, because the process of self-development cannot be driven into any framework. “Live forever, learn forever” - follow this rule, and soon your life will thank you.

How to become a polymath - tips!

First you need to determine who can be called an erudite without understatement or exaggeration. An erudite is a person who has extensive knowledge in many areas, and he necessarily highlights one of them, finding in it the source of his self-expression (example: personal hobby or interests).

A polymath may not always know the answer to all the questions from the game “What? Where? When?”, cannot always explain the formula of the Golden Ratio, but he knows how to delve into the essence of a particular science, art, or personal relationships.

Most often, the knowledge of scholars is deeper, acquired not through cramming, but as a result of reflection and detailed study of the topic.

This explains, for example, those moments when a well-read person cannot retell some of the chemical formulas word for word, but he can perfectly explain how he understands this science, what value it brings to society and what he would change or correct in it.

However, one should not confuse a true erudite with someone who is just trying to be like him - usually a truly knowledgeable person can be identified by his calm and sometimes noble character.

How to increase erudition?

It is impossible to become well-read on purpose, but the main thing here is to start. Cultivate at least one fiery passion in your soul. Everyone can have their own. There is no point in giving examples here. The main thing is to be interested in something with all your heart. Impatient readers will ask: “Is it possible to increase erudition?” Answer: Yes. But only if a person loves knowledge disinterestedly, and not in order to achieve extraneous goals.

For example, a teenager wants to please girls, so with sickening scrupulousness he studies the immortal creations of Paulo Coelho in order to talk about something with the young ladies, or rather, to start a conversation, of course, a casual one. It’s unlikely that anything will come of such erudition. Because a person is not possessed by a passion for knowledge.

So, erudition rests on three pillars:

Love for development.
Love of reading.
The love of learning without any purpose.

The last point needs clarification. If knowledge has a specific goal, then sooner or later it will exhaust itself, and an erudite is a person who absorbs knowledge for pleasure. Erudition is a kind of intellectual hedonism. This last fact is important to remember.

How to recognize a person with high intelligence

How is high intelligence expressed in a girl or guy? What makes a smart person?

Several signs of high intelligence.

The ability not to be distracted by extraneous stimuli. Smart people are able to focus on what is important for long periods of time.
Goes to bed late and gets up late. It is believed that night owls are smarter than early birds. Two studies were conducted in which more than 1000 people participated. During testing, it was proven that it is “owls” who have high intelligence.
The ability to quickly adapt to new things. This is connected not only with a new job, but also with finding the optimal path that can more effectively change the situation.
A person with high intelligence knows how to admit that he does not know much. He is not afraid to say that he does not have an answer to a question; he understands that the more you know, the more often you encounter the unknown.
Smart people are incredibly curious. Curiosity is one of the main signs of high intelligence.
The ability to seek and accept new ideas and opportunities. Such people do not think in a standard way; they are always looking for an alternative that can lead to the goal with the least loss.
They feel comfortable being alone. They do not need anyone's company to feel needed; they are self-sufficient individuals.
They know how to take control of their own emotions in difficult situations. Intellectuals can plan their own time, know how to build strategies and evaluate results. They are not impulsive and always make decisions after carefully considering the possible consequences.
Good sense of humour. It has been proven that smart people have a great sense of humor, this is confirmed by tests that comedians have undergone.
Empathy. An intelligent person can put himself in someone else's shoes and look at the situation from the outside. He will be able to calculate the reaction and turn the situation at an angle favorable to himself.
The ability to find connections that are not visible at first glance. Intellectuals can find differences and common characteristics of any subject because they think on a larger scale and never use patterns.
Think about global issues. They often think about the meaning of life, their own destiny, about the existence of parallel universes. They think about why it happened this way and not differently, and what could have been changed to prevent this resolution of the situation.

Such signs are not an axiom, because people are different, they cannot be lumped with the same brush. There are completely unique individuals who do not fit into any created frame, and at the same time are considered geniuses.

There are several unexpected signs of high intelligence that are viewed with skepticism, but they are actually true:

untidiness and a tendency to disorder are signs of high intelligence;
smart people have a large vocabulary, so they use foul language more;
slim people have a higher IQ than fat people;
modesty, because they are not able to brag or overestimate their own strengths;
love cats more than dogs;
maintaining virginity during adolescence is one of the indicators of an intelligent person.

Width and depth of erudition

As always, let's start with the definition. And here everything is not as simple as it seems at first glance. Because erudition can be understood as both broad, but shallow knowledge, and deep education, when a person understands the subject comprehensively. The meaning of the word “erudition,” like any other, depends on the context. Yes, it is also important to remember that the depth of any knowledge is relative.

How to develop it

The development of erudition is becoming a pressing issue in modern society, since earlier emphasis was placed on highly specialized training, as a result of which an individual person is often unable to solve, and sometimes even understand, any everyday tasks that are not within his circle of competence. In addition to the global trend, the development of erudition is relevant at the individual personal level, since such a person can support almost any communication, quickly finds ways out of various life situations, and is also more creatively productive, since he can synthesize many aspects at once.

The first assistant in the development of erudition is considered to be reading a wide variety of literature in large quantities. This does not include novels of the same type that are forgotten a day after reading; we are talking about works and popular science literature that require analysis.

It is important not to devour books, trying to tick as many boxes as possible, but to read them well. There is no point in reading a hundred that cannot be remembered in a year, but one book, fully analyzed on several levels, can be more useful. The information received can be systematized, recorded, discussed with friends - the more a person interacts with new knowledge, the better and deeper it is absorbed.

Literature should be selected from different industries - this helps to expand the range of topics that are accessible to understanding. For example, books on psychology will help you understand people, and various works on physics will increase your understanding of the structure of the world.

Many books help self-research, for which you can keep a separate notebook or find suitable trainings where you can deepen your research. When faced with new information, the perception of the world changes, so an important point is to constantly correlate what you read with what your personal life is like at the moment. Not from memory, to know that some things were pleasant, while others were uninteresting, but each time you analyze your inner world for changes. Choose scientific literature, since reading, even in large volumes of social media feeds, does not always have the desired effect. In order for Facebook and Telegram to be useful, you should carefully filter your subscriptions and monitor not only the variety of topics, but also the quality of the content.

Cinema is an excellent way to develop erudition, provided that the films are selected on a variety of topics and interesting directions. Comedies with rude humor and action films without any plot are more aimed at evoking different emotions, but historical films can open new horizons. Biographical films based on real events are great. There are many short and arthouse films designed to show the unusual side of life, to reveal new facets and understandings.