Howard Gardner challenges the prevailing notion of a single intelligence, proposing instead a kaleidoscopic view of seven human intellectual competences.

Part I. Background.The idea of multiple intelligences -- Intelligence: earlier views -- Biological foundations of intelligence -- What is an intelligence? -- Part II. The theory. Linguistic intelligence -- Musical intelligence -- Logical-mathematical intelligence -- Spatial intelligence -- Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence -- The personal intelligences -- A critique of the theory of multiple intelligences -- The socialization of human intelligences through symbols -- Part III. Implications and applications. The education of intelligences -- The application of intelligences.