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.