The Philosopher (IN)

Intuitive introverts have what can best be described as the existential intelligence, thinking from perspectives, and achieving insights from within, from silently musing on all the theories you have about the world, the unknown, and the future. Philosophers have the ability to foresee a future or futures as if they had happened in the past. They then analyze and think about these futures, learning to use this foresight wisely.

Introverted intuition

Nickname: The Philosopher

Primary desire: To learn from the future or futures.
Core fear: To see a future that you have seen will be terrible come to pass.
Inspired by: The detectives’ interpretative intelligence (EN)
Grounded by: The scouts’ nature intelligence (ES)
Variations: INFJ, INTJ, INTP, INFP
Jungian variation: Introverted intuition:

Inner objects appear to the intuitive perception as subjective images of things, which, though not met with in external experience, really determine the contents of the unconscious, i.e. the collective unconscious, in the last resort.

Carl Jung on introverted intuition

Key motivations: To act to serve a positive future, to act to avoid a negative future, to learn from the futures you have envisioned, to draw insight from possible scenarios and eventualities.

INFJ, INTJ, Introverted Intuition, ENTJ, ENFJ, ESTP, ESFP, ISFP, ISTP,

Cognitive abilities

Foresight, perspective, vision, inner sight, hidden intention, sensory detachment, otherworldly perception, big-picture thinking, speculation, the ability to guess, “luck”, making theories about your experiences, creating concepts by synthesizing ideas


Existential intelligence is intuitive introversion. Existential intelligence gives you foresight, the ability to reflect on something before it has happened. A type with existential intelligence can take action or reason about things that do not exist, or things that won’t happen until far in the future.


This ability to guess and speculate, when correct, has a tendency to make you appear blessed by good fortune. What others perceive to be pure randomness, you see as a complex system that can be shaped by your actions. There is a hidden, subjective intentionality to your actions, which can make you appear somewhat devious or cunning. But it can also spark people’s curiosity: what are you trying to do? what is it you know?

Experience of the future

Existential intelligence also gives the gift of perspective. Because intuitive introversion is subjective, it’s like being able to hold different possible interpretations in your head. You can in your own head see, twist, and turn a theory to consider it from different angles. The introverted intuitive can act as if they have experienced war, conflict, or what it is like to be a woman/man, or to be god, by envisioning themselves in this archetype, moving forward with the wisdom of experiences they have never had.

What is existential intelligence?

Existential thinking is an intuitive ability in that it requires you to make personal interpretations about the world you are in and who you are. The introverted nature of this intuition suggests that most existential thinking is directed towards understanding more subjective parts of the world: Who am I? What is my purpose? What is humanity?

Existential thinking is the predecessor of freedom and possibility. Without the ability for existential thought, we can’t motivate unique or original action. Why should I become a scientist? Why should I become a singer? Vision and the ability to reason about life in more complex terms can help you unlock the answer.

Existential thinking unlocks our sense of purpose and gives us motivation to chase towards our dreams. Existential thinking also helps us comprehend the incomprehensible, for example death, greed, and war. Why does evil exist? Thoughts like this help us cope with difficulties in life. This is why we need priests and wise people – they can give us answers to what seems pointless.

Existential thinkers are always guessing about life, the future, and the universe and its hidden truths. But sometimes a guess is better than nothing at all, and a lot of the time, these guesses are based on the mind’s unconscious synthesis of information, and our ability to integrate our current understanding of the world into a system. Existential thinkers often blossom at a late age but often come to be regarded as wise, brave, as seers and philosophers. Types who often are strong existential thinkers are often the INFJ or INTJ as well as the INFP and the INTP.

How to raise a philosopher?

When raising an INFJ or INTJ kid, frequently give them time and privacy to reflect about the world, and encourage them to read books like Sophie’s World and others that can introduce them to existential thought. These kids may appear to be hard to reach – they don’t just take your word for truth.

Philosophers need to reach the same answer independently, but trust that these kids are still highly impressionable, they listen, and they take in, but they take in a lot, and they need more time to process and make up their own answer on what you have taught them.

Integrating existential intelligence

Existential intelligence is integrated by interpretative intelligence (EN). To be integrated means to be “boosted”. It’s like unlocking a more full, complete form of intuition, a higher level of awareness. Detectives can help boost your intelligence by:

  • Providing ideas, clues, possibilities that you can synthesize into concepts, theories, and your vision of the future
  • Building bridges and drawing lines between what you say and do to help you feel more connected
  • Suggesting changes and new ways you can respond to a situation when things go wrong.

When you’re not integrated, you may experience yourself becoming more obsessive, feeling more isolated, and more lost in your own mind. When this happens, your health level may drop.