Final answer:
Howard Gardner theorized that intelligence consists of eight distinct capacities in his Multiple Intelligences Theory, influencing educational practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theorist who theorized that intelligence consists of eight distinct capacities is Howard Gardner. Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory suggests that each person possesses at least eight intelligences, which include linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, bodily kinesthetic, spatial, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic intelligences. Despite criticism from cognitive psychologists regarding the lack of empirical evidence supporting his theory, it remains influential, particularly among educators. Howard Gardner's work reflects the attractive idea that everyone has a unique area in which they can excel, which resonates particularly well in democratic societies.