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Posts Tagged ‘Philosophy’

Two issues are infinite: the universe and human stupidity. And I am undecided of the universe.”
-Albert Einstein (as quoted on the Area Channel)

For the past hundred years, psychologists have labored to measure IQ. Most of us grew up in a society that takes it for granted that there’s a single, general intelligence that can be expressed as a number. Since dolphins, parrots and ants do not rating as well on these assessments as our own offspring, we conclude that people are the crowning achievement of evolution. But, as Albert Einstein warned, “We must always take care to not make the mind our god. It has, in fact, powerful muscle tissues, however no personality.”

In his1983 ebook, *Frames of Mind*, Howard Gardner undertook to fill the personality hole by introducing the concept of multiple intelligences. He recognized seven sorts of intelligence: linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. In 1995, he added an eighth: that of the naturalist, which permits the popularity and categorizing of pure objects. He is considering including a ninth: existential intelligence, the ability to ponder philosophical and non secular questions (which could comfort mystics who’ve wearied of being labeled “too heavenly-minded to be any earthly good”). The debate continues to simmer in academia. Are the proponents of multiple intelligences onto something new, or are they’re merely hijacking and re-labeling human talents, virtues and personal coping types? Both way, what they need to say has implications for all points of life: each day socialization, the office, education, and bodily and emotional healing processes. Read the rest of this entry »