DECIPHERING THE THEORY OF MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES: AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bürhan AKPUNAR, Lect. Yunus DOGAN

Abstract
This paper aims to criticize the theory of Multiple Intelligences which was incorporated into Turkish educational system together with the educational reform made in 2004 from an Islamic perspective. To this end, analyses on the relevant literature have been carried out. As a result, it has been identified that this theory, with its initial form, has also been widely accepted in many Muslim countries. However, it is expectable that this acceptance will soon turn into a refusal due to Gardner’s placing strong emphasis on materialism and Darwin as the reference sources for his own theory. For, materialism and Darwinism are completely dissimilar to the core values of Islam. Moreover, Gardner’s theory conflicts with Islam in that it cannot present a consistent goal in education and cannot keep a balance between the material and the spiritual, and it can bear such risks as nihilism and hedonism.

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