Why Gardner’s Theory Needs One More Dimension

In the 1980s, Howard Gardner helped the world see intelligence differently. His Theory of Multiple Intelligences challenged the narrow view of IQ by showing that people express intelligence in many ways: through words, numbers, music, movement, empathy, and more.

But as I’ve reflected on Gardner’s work over the years, I’ve wondered whether one vital capacity was missing — not just another domain of talent, but an intelligence that directs all the others. A kind of “meta-intelligence” that helps us evolve.

What Gardner Started

Gardner’s original model included seven intelligences and was later expanded to eight. In his 1999 book Intelligence Reframed, he also proposed a ninth — existential intelligence — to describe the ability to reflect on meaning, death, and human purpose. He called it a candidate, but never fully integrated it into his framework.

His model is powerful and practical, especially in education. But it was never intended to explain how human consciousness matures or how values emerge in complex systems.

And that’s where I believe something more is needed.

What’s Still Missing

What I call Evolutionary Intelligence isn’t about having more skills — it’s about knowing where those skills are leading us.

In the Theory of Evolutionary Integration (TEI), intelligence (I) becomes meaningful only when guided by consciousness (C). This produces wisdom (W = I^C). When that wisdom is expressed harmoniously within systems (H), it results in true evolution over time:

E = d/dt (W · H)

This equation represents more than growth. It points to a kind of integration that happens when our learning, self-awareness, and relationships become part of something sustainable — something that endures.

Rethinking Gardner Through TEI

If we look again at Gardner’s intelligences, we can see how they cluster into layers of development:

• Biological (bodily, naturalistic)
• Emotional (intrapersonal, interpersonal)
• Mental (logical, linguistic)
• Conscious (existential)
• Systemic (integration and alignment)

Each of these is a layer. But TEI proposes something else above them all: Evolutionary Intelligence. Not just the sum of skills, but the force that orchestrates transformation.

Why This Matters Now

In a time of artificial intelligence, ecological collapse, and ethical uncertainty, it’s not enough to be smart or skilled. We need to ask: are we evolving wisely?

Evolutionary Intelligence helps us reframe what learning and leadership mean. It encourages us to integrate our abilities with intention, resilience, and care for the systems we live in.

Because the ultimate intelligence isn’t just knowing more — it’s growing toward what matters most.

— Rogerio Figurelli, Senior IT Architect, CTO @ Trajecta

https://github.com/rfigurelli/Theory-of-Evolutionary-Integration