Howard Gardner: Multiple Intelligences Summary
Howard Gardner’s, A Rounded version: the theory of multiple intelligences serves to challenge the traditional perspective of intelligence. His theory shows that different parts of the brain are responsible for the different abilities humans have. As well as that, damage to certain regions of the brain can precisely affect certain intelligences of that individual. With that in mind Gardner ultimately shows that humans encompass numerous types of astuteness. He argues that each human initially has all the elements within their brain to attribute to all these intelligences but all have a certain degree of development. Henceforth the reason other individuals have more endowment in certain fortes such as musical capability or mathematical ability.
Gardner describes the rhetoric of IQ tests only being able to predict the performance of a student in schooling but cannot predict performance outside that in environment. He also argues that IQ tests can only measure the capability of individuals in solving logical and linguistic problems alone, and thus overlooks the other “multiple intelligences”.
Gardner talks about seven intelligences in his theory being the framework of the human brain. He begins by describing “musical intelligence” and talks about a child prodigy Yehudi Menuhin a violinist. He illustrates how his musical talent was biologically encrypted in him even before he ever touched the violin. The author also goes on to talk about “bodily-kinesthetic intelligence”, here he illustrates the story of Babe Ruth who discovered he was a natural pitcher after his exposure to the sport. Body movement is described by Gardner here as the intelligence that an individual can have to be able to solve problems within that ranking, for instance pitching a ball and knowing when and how to do it perfectly almost every time.
Gardner describes “logical-mathematical intelligence” as the ability to solve logical problems. He illustrates this by showing how some individuals such as Barbara McClintock can solve problems with great speed better than others. The author goes on to describe “linguistic intelligence” as the ability to construct complicated sentences. Gardner illustrates this talent as the “gift of language”. “Spatial intelligence” is also described as the ability to envision spaces, such as architecture.
Gardner also describes inter and intra personal intelligence which is to do with understanding other individuals or oneself, respectively. All in all, Gardner shows that all seven intelligences are placed in certain areas of the brain. He proves this thesis by showing how if any damage to these areas occurred, the specific intelligences linked with that side of the brain would be affected. Therefore intelligence is shown to be a system compromising of different elements, which are the seven intelligences.
My opinion.
Gardner’s theory gives an explanation to the basis of different talents. His theory causes his audience to want to question their own view on intelligence. As one reads, they begin to ponder on what being intelligent actually means to them.
The use of everyday examples such as the musical prodigies that people hear about often allows for the reader to envision the concepts being conveyed by the writer.
Bibliography
Howard Gardner, A Rounded version: The theory of multiple intelligences.