I agree, this is a ridiculous overstatement of the importance of software engineering. A renaissance man equivalent of today would have to be proficient (at lea

I agree, this is a ridiculous overstatement of the importance of software engineering. A renaissance man equivalent of today would have to be proficient (at least) in physics, chemistry (and mathematics naturally), (electrical) engineering, programming and to some extent even law. I don't know anyone who would fulfill these requirements.