Specialists vs. Generalists

A reoccurring thought in these recent days/weeks/months: what is more valuable in today's society, a person who is a specialist or a generalist? Back in the day, many people (often men) did apprenticeships and honed their skills without necessarily even receiving what we would now consider an education. This leads me to believe that those people were definitely specialists. However, I've come across mentions of individuals who were a "Jack of all trades" such as Leonardo da Vinci. According to Wikipedia, that phrase has been in use since the 1600's, which would mean it was in circulation even when apprenticing and specialization was a lifestyle for many. "Jack of all trades" was supposed to be a complement at first, noting an individual's knowledge that spanned many areas and abilities to match. However, then the clause "master of none" was added to the phrase, and in this context being a generalist ceases to be anything desirable, since it's implied that the generalist's skills and knowledge are but superficial. Currently, whether being a Jack of all trades is a complement depends entirely on the context and the implication the speaker provides.

Today, I'm tempted to say that society on the whole values specialists more than generalists (I'm not referring to doctors here, by the way--that's a whole different kettle of fish). If one goes the liberal arts route, there is something to be said for the emphasis on the holistic that those colleges and their curricula embody. The idea there is to sample from a variety of subjects to the extent possible, while still maintaining a focus on a particular area, that being one's major. So even at a liberal arts school there's a bit of the push-pull between being a specialist and generalist.

If one is fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go to college and graduate, there are then the societal pressures to go back to school almost as soon as the cap has been thrown in the air and the gown cast aside. Nowadays there are many reasons to go back to school. You may have a particular passion for a subject area and wish to study it much more in-depth. Entering future jobs at a higher pay grade doesn't hurt at all, does it? Maybe you don't know exactly what you want to do, so grad school seems like a way to stave off impending decision making. Your family may be exerting pressure on you to get a higher degree, and you decide to go that route. Perhaps you've hit a ceiling at your current job because it requires an additional level of expertise that requires further education.

Clearly there are better reasons and worse reasons to go back to school and specialize in a particular area. But what about those who don't feel the need to specialize--those who are curious about many things and shoot for a wider breadth of knowledge, even if they aren't "experts" in any of them? I wonder if this is something that society still champions. I have to admit that I don't see much emphasis on this professional style, but I do see the value in being a Jack of all trades.