Leonardo and his Multiple Intelligences

1. Leonardo and his Multiple Intelligences Includes pictures and explanations of the Intelligences and examples of his intelligences.

2. Naturalist Intelligence • Leonardo da Vinci studied science by going out into nature • Leonardo’s patrons increased in power like in a hierarchy (he went from the Duke of Milan, to the Pope, to Francis I.)

3. Musical Intelligence • He was offered a position as a musician in Milan • He invented a mechanical drum as seen below.

4. Logical/ Mathematical Intelligence • Leonardo was good at problem solving and figuring out ways to make things work • The notebooks that he kept for classifying his records were kept very neat and organized.

5. Existential (Spiritual) Intelligence • Leonardo was a great painter not only did he enjoy looking at art he enjoyed creating it also. • He would go out into nature to receive inspiration for his work and to seek the truth. • Also while observing nature he would ask questions about how things work and watch them to get his answers. (Paddle Boat Model)

6. Interpersonal Intelligence • Leonardo created a school and was a teacher there • As evidence of the Mona Lisa Leonardo worked with many other people

7. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence • Leonardo was a sculptor and a painter • He studied human anatomy and physiology (dissected things)

8. Linguistic Intelligence • Between 1490 and 1495 da Vinci recorded all of his studies in notebooks. • Leonardo wrote in an Italian short hand which he invented himself • He also lived in many places including Italy and France so he spoke multiple languages

9. Intrapersonal Intelligence • Leonardo wrote in his backwards shorthand to keep his works private so that other people could not read them • He also created a self portrait

10. Spatial Intelligence • Leonardo enjoyed creating his own works of art. (Mona Lisa, The Last Supper) • He studied town-planning and architecture • He was given the post of Architect to the King

11. What was Leonardo’s greatest intelligence? Why? • Leonardo’s greatest intelligence was Spatial intelligence because almost everything that he did had to do with creating something or making things work and he created many things. Another strong one was existential. • What was da Vinci’s weakest intelligence? Why? • Leonardo’s weakest intelligence was music because even though he used music and other things involved with it in his work it was not his most involved intelligence.

12. Polymaths (Renaissance men) • Polymaths / Renaissance men like Leonardo da Vinci may have been born with these intelligences but no matter what they were born with they had to work a great deal to make them greater. If da Vinci would not have continued doing his reports and exploring his philosophies he would not have been as great or as “intelligent”.

13. Multiple intelligences as a reasonable explanation? • Multiple intelligences could be an explanation for their accomplishments but, they definitely had to work very hard and for a long time on the things that they have accomplished and multiple intelligences could have only helped. • This theory is fairly valid but if there was one thing to change, it would be some of the criteria or making the categories more specific.