The legend of the 6 blind men
The Legend of the 6 Blind Men and the Elephant
There once were 6 blind men who, upon encountering an elephant, gave their own individual assessments of the elephant. The first one happened to fall against the broad and sturdy side of the elephant, and concluded that the elephant is very much like a
wall. The second one, feeling the tusk, said the elephant was very much like a spear. The third one happened to take the squirmingtrunk in his hands, and said the elephant was very much like a snake. The fourth one, reached out and touched the elephant’s knee, and concluded that the elephant is very much like a tree. The fifth one happened to touch the ear, and insisted that the elephant is very much like a fan. And the sixth one seized the swinging tail, and said the elephant is very much like a rope. Each of the blind men was partly right based on his own subjective perception —but at the same time, mostly wrong. The comical part of it all is that their dispute stemmed from utter ignorance because none had ever seen the elephant!
