Plato was a famous philosopher in classical Greece and founder of the first institution for higher learning in the Western
world. He laid the foundations for Western philosophy, science, and maths, along with being one of the founders of Western
religion and spirituality, a very early adopter of interdisciplinary studies.
His student Aristotle was also a philosopher and scientist. His writings cover many areas, including physics, biology, zoology,
poetry, theatre, music, psychology, and politics and government.
Abu Rayhan Al-Biruni, a Persian polymath regarded as one of the greatest scholars of the mediaeval Islamic era, and was well
versed in physics, mathematics, astronomy, and a natural scientist, and also distinguished himself as a historian, chronologist,
and linguist.
Leonardo da Vinci, regarded by many historians and scholars as a universal genius. His areas of interest spanned a wide range
of subjects, from invention, painting, and sculpting, to architecture, science, music, mathematics, and engineering. The list
goes on.
Beatrix Potter's inspiration was drawn from a range of different disciplines, from recording observable data, art, and she
was a student of natural history from a young age. She was also interested in geology, archaeology, entomology, and mycology.
"What was rare was how Potter used her gifts in diverse areas, from stories for children and animal husbandry to the preservation
of land, farms, and watersheds in the English Lake District," Lear, 2007.
Albert Einstein, the most famous scientist from the 20th century, was a theoretical physicist who won the Nobel Peace Prize
in 1921 for his work contributing to the evolution of quantum theory. He wrote over 150 scientific works, including writing
about socialism. Einstein was also a lover of music and a keen violinist.