A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

Robert A. Heinlein

That's quite the list. I think the conversation is more nuanced, especially since the quote seems so anti-specialization, but in general I think it's correct. Even so, none of these things are really specializations/ exclusive of each other.

I dont know if this is cool, but I recently published an essay on why generalism is a cool sort of specialist to be.

Nothing in particular

It's a slightly long read (4k), so in case that isn't your thing, the upshot is that generalism is specialising for uncertainty and that being a polymath is pretty cool.

Also, being a polymath is your default state and capitalism really doesnt like it.

Sweet sweet ADHD.

This is why I think it's so important for programmers to learn art and for artists to learn code. You find out there's so much more to the world than whatever hole you put yourself in.

I kinda realised that the less specialised you are, the more you really know. If you don't branch out here and there, you won't develop necessary skills that will help you in your own specialised area. For example, Albert Einstein is well known as a theoretical physicist, a highly specialised occupation. But were it not for his hobby of playing the violin and willing to work outside his main field and interest, he would not have been able to come up with solutions to some of the pressing problems in physics. He did say that imagination is more important than knowledge, and his track record speak for himself and his mindset.

Moreover, I think there is some harm not developing other skills. I find that some people in positions of power being ineffective, because they may only know their technical skills, but did not bother to learn people or time management skills. Going further beyond, a lot of people have ill-informed takes in politics or life in general, because they do not bother learning more facets.

Jack of many Master of none But better than A master of one

Hobbies, sure. But specialization comes with tools and learning that generalists don't have, couldn't possibly afford, and would be a ridiculous amount of things to store and knowledge to remember. E.g. I don't want to do my own dentistry and I'd prefer an expert for that. Dentistry in the US requires a whole medical degree, specialized tools, etc. I also don't own the equipment nor have the knowledge to find and drill a well if I want to be "self sufficient".

You don't have to be an expert, and that can be very freeing, but we do need them and becoming an expert has opportunity costs. That doesn't mean experts are shallow or becoming a generalist is deep or morally better nor does it mean generalists are in any way insufficient.

Favorite meme of the day.

My firm provides services that require our key employees to have great depth in certain things (specialization). A lot of firms do that. What makes us the leading provider in our field is that along with depth, our key personnel also have breadth.

Never believe anyone that tells you that you should only focus on one thing. Be great at some things. Be good at many things.

It's true you create more value for your work/hobby if you specialize, it's more true than you can just enjoy life if you don't spend most of it being socially dominated into a job you hate doing in an oppressive environment you hate being in. You get so much more value of yourself just living, or at least making wise trade-offs.

Is this loss?

I've read the SVN book from cover to cover and understand what can go wrong during a merge and how to solve it. But I never tell anyone, because I hate it more than anything.

I have a vast array of knowledge in a lot of dumb stuff. I get paid jack shit.

Haha what a load of shit. Generalists are useful on a day-to-day basis, while specialists advance civilization. They're both useful in their own way, cause I can't do anything with a rocket scientist if I wanna change my spark plugs and my man has no idea how cars work, but to claim one is better and the other is garbage? You think humanity is ever inventing the telephone if it's only your average ass around? Fuck outta here.