temperament (idea)

David Keirsey in his book Please Understand Me and the sequel Please Understand Me 2 uses the term "temperament". He broadly classifies everyone into 4 temperaments with 4 additional Myers-Briggs personality types each. Thus:

• Artisan (SP)
  • Types:
  • ESFP
  • ESTP
  • ISFP
  • ESTP
• Guardian (SJ)
  • Types:
  • ESFJ
  • ESTJ
  • ISFJ
  • ISTJ
• Idealist (NF)
  • Types:
  • ENFP
  • ENFJ
  • INFP
  • INFJ
• Rational (NT)
  • Types:
  • ENTP
  • ENTJ
  • INTP
  • INTJ

These 4 temperaments have appeared over and over throughout history. A little table documents the 4 types and their various names since 340 bc to present

Plato c340 B.C.  | Artisan      Guardian    Idealist      Rational
Aristotle c325   | Hedonic      Propietary  Ethical       Dialectical
Galen c190 AD    | Sanguine     Melancholic Choleric      Phlegmatic
Paracelsus 1550  | Changeable   Industrious Inspired      Curious
Adickes 1905     | Innovative   Traditional Doctrinaire   Skeptical
Spranger 1914    | Aesthetic    Economic    Religious     Theoretic
Kretschmer 1920  | Hypomanic    Depressive  Hyperesthetic Anesthetic
Fromm 1947       | Exploitative Hoarding    Receptive     Marketing
Myers 1958       | Probing      Scheduling  Friendly      Tough-minded