overview history of the four temperaments - or four humours

From various sources and references, including Keirsey and Montgomery, here is a history of the Four
Temperaments and other models and concepts related to the Four Temperaments or Four Humours. The
words in this framework (from Hippocrates onwards) can be seen as possible describing words for each of
the temperaments concerned, although do not attach precise significance to any of the words - they
are guide only and not definitive or scientifically reliable. The correlations prior to Hippocrates are far
less reliable and included here more for interest than for scientific relevance.
N.B. the colours in these charts do not signify anything - they merely assist (hopefully) with continuity
between the different tables. The initials K and M denote interpretations according to Keirsey and
Montgomery. Ancient dates are approximate. Some cautionary notes relating to the inclusion of some of
these theorists and interpretations is shown below the grid. For believers in astrology and star-signs
please resist the temptation to categorise yourself according to where your star-sign sits in the grid -
these associations are not scientific and not reliable, and are included merely for historical context and
information.

Keirsey/MBTI® artisan/SP sensing- guardian/SJ idealist/NF rationalist/NT

reference perceiving sensing-judging intuitive-feeling intuitive-thinking

Ezekiel 590BC lion ox man eagle

Empedocles 450BC Goea (air) Hera (earth) Zeus (fire) Poseidon (water)

The Seasons Spring Autumn Summer Winter

Libra, Aquarius, Capricorn, Taurus, Aries, Leo, Cancer, Scorpio,

Signs of Zodiac
Gemini Virgo Sagittarius Pisces

Hippocrates 370BC blood black bile yellow bile phlegm

Hippocrates 370BC 'Four

hot and moist cold and dry hot and dry cold and moist
Qualities'

Plato 340BC (M) artistic sensible intuitive reasoning

'dianoetic' -
Aristotle 325BC 'pistic' - common- 'noetic' - intuitive
'iconic'- artistic and reasoning and
'contribution to social sense and care- sensibility and
art-making logical
order' (K) taking morality
investigator

'dialogike' -
Aristotle 325BC Four 'hedone' - sensual 'propraieteri' - 'ethikos' - moral
logical
Sources of Happiness (K) pleasure acquiring assets virtue
investigation

Galen 190AD Four

Temperaments or Four sanguine melancholic choleric phlegmatic
Humours

Salamanders - Gnomes -
Paracelsus 1550 'Four Nymph - inspiring Sylphs - curious
impulsive and industrious and
Totem Spirits' (K) and passionate and calm
changeable guarded

Eric Adickes 1905 Four

innovative traditional doctrinaire sceptical
World Views (K)
Eduard Spranger 1914
artistic economic religious theoretic
Four Value Attitudes (K)

Ernst Kretschmer 1920

manic depressive oversensitive insensitive
(M)

Eric Fromm 1947 (K) exploitative hoarding receptive marketing

restless, careful,
Hans Eysenck 1950s (trait
lively, talkative, sober, reserved, excitable, controlled,
examples from his
carefree, outgoing quiet, rigid optimistic, thoughtful,
inventory)
impulsive reliable

Myers 1958 (M) perceiving judging feeling thinking

Myers 1958 (K) probing scheduling friendly tough-minded

Montgomery 2002 on SP - spontaneous SJ - sensible and NF - intuitive and NT - ingenious

Jung/Myers and playful judicious fervent and theoretical

Montgomery 2002 on says what's says what's

says what is, says what is,
Keirsey's Four possible, possible,
does what works does what's right
Temperaments does what's right does what works