The text seems to put effort into differentiating between what a generalist is and what a polymath is:
> Polymaths don’t simply know a lot, they understand what fields have in common.
According to the text, the polymath focuses on the intersection of fields. This is more specific than a generalist, that could know a lot of fields but have no particular experience in what is their connection.
I don't know if I agree with the text definition of what a polymath is. It is, however, what they meant.
Generalist versus specialist is a false dichotomy. The text has little to do with it, it tries to distance itself from portraying these roles as stereotypical.
> Polymaths don’t simply know a lot, they understand what fields have in common.
According to the text, the polymath focuses on the intersection of fields. This is more specific than a generalist, that could know a lot of fields but have no particular experience in what is their connection.
I don't know if I agree with the text definition of what a polymath is. It is, however, what they meant.