Spiritual existential intelligence is also referred to by others as “cosmic” or “spiritual” intelligence. What is existential intelligence? In essence, existential intelligence is the ability to use intuition, thought, and meta-cognition to ask and answer deep questions about human existence.

The theory of multiple intelligences developed by Howard Garner proposes the differentiation of human intelligence into specific modalities of intelligence, rather than defining intelligence as a single, general ability.

Gardner's followers hypothesized there was a spiritual/existential intelligence type that has the capability and perception concerning abstract philosophies, plus a moral intelligence type that had the capability and perceptions to understand ethics, humanity, and the value of life. The original seven intelligence types are measurable, and we know what they are, what they mean, and can evidence or illustrate them, however the potential additional human capabilities of perceptions and attunements are highly subjective and complex, and contain many overlapping aspects.