"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 Heinlein
That is an interesting quote. But I find it difficult to agree that every single human being should be a generalist and be good at everything. Can really a jack of all trades be the master of all as well? That notion sort of trivialises the need for specialization and team work among specialists to accomplish tasks. It is true that more and more specialized tasks are eliminated by machines now. That only frees us to move ahead with finding new areas to specialize on rather than become generalists.
In an increasingly competitive world, individuals survive and thrive if and only if they have something unique to offer the world that others cannot. i.e. Specialization and differentiation is what makes the world grow in multiple dimensions simultaneously and allow us to exchange best value for value as individuals, as businesses in societies and across nations.
With the vastness of everything in the world and given the choice that an individual has today, even in theory it is impossible for someone to try to do more than a few things; let alone being good at them.
I think the value of integration remains in our ability to come together as specialists for the collective betterment of all of us. Not in trying to become self fullfilling individuals who can be good at everything. It is a romantic notion to imagine individuals as super heros and dismiss that specialization is for insects. It seems like an outdated view of life that has no relevance in the modern society.
"Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, that is way great spiritual giants are produced."
-Swami Vivekananda
Now that is a powerful idea!
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"It seems like an outdated view of life that has no relevance in the modern society." - I totally agree. During stone age people were collecting food, making clothes out of skin, building house with sticks etc. - Every one was self sufficient. But there was no scientific advancement. But the whole idea of society itself (not just 'modern' society) is based on mutual dependence of people of different specializations - for eg., a farmer and weaver depending on each other. With everyone specializing in a particular field, there was scientific advancement in each of the fields. Society and scientific advancement are the most important qualities that makes humans different from animals - in other words, specialization is what makes humans different from...um.. say, insects for instance!!
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