Confucius and Multiple Intelligences

Did Confucius think about multiple intelligences over 2 thousand years before Howard Gardner?

 

Confucius (551-479 BC) taught that the perfect gentleman had to excel in the following “arts”: mathematics, poetry, music, calligraphy, archery, charioteering, and rituals.

 

Howard Gardner (1943- present) suggested that each individual had multiple intelligences, and that these included mathematics, verbal-linguistic, music, visual-spatial, bodily kinesthetics, intrapersonal and interpersonal.

 

Is it possible that Confucius’ notion of a well-rounded person possessing many talents, might be the precursor of Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences? If so, his ideas were conceived  over 2 thousand years ago. Think about it.

 

Howard Gardner (1943- )	Confucius (551-479 BC)
Mathematics	Mathematics
Music	Music
Verbal-Linguistic	Poetry
Visual-Spatial	Calligraphy
Bodily Kinesthetics	Archery, Charioteering
Interpersonal	–
Intrapersonal	–
–	Rituals