Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Gardner’s central claim in Frames of Mind is that intelligence is multifaceted rather than singular. This challenges the modern Western view, upheld by IQ testing and early cognitive psychology, that intelligence can be measured as a single, general mental capacity. Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences (MI) redefines intelligence as a plural and diverse set of capacities, each with its own developmental trajectory, neurological basis, and cultural value. His work thus dismantles the idea of a one-size-fits-all measure of intellectual competence and replaces it with a model that encompasses a wider spectrum of human potential.

Gardner introduces this argument early in the book by juxtaposing three culturally distinct examples of cognitive excellence: a Puluwat navigator, an Islamic Koranic scholar, and a Parisian computer composer. Each of these individuals exhibits profound intelligence in their respective domains—navigational, linguistic-mnemonic, and musical-logical—but none of them would necessarily perform well on a standardized IQ test. The Puluwat child, trained to navigate through hundreds of islands using only stars, ocean currents, and memory, demonstrates spatial and bodily-kinesthetic intelligence. The Islamic scholar, who memorizes vast portions of the Koran in classical Arabic, exemplifies linguistic and intrapersonal intelligence. The Parisian teen composing electronic music using a computer blends musical and

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now