Five Blind MenFive Blind Menandand

an Elephantan Elephant

Five blind men were taken to Five blind men were taken to “see” an elephant. “see” an elephant.

Each examined it as best he Each examined it as best he could, and described it in terms could, and described it in terms of his experience.of his experience.

One felt a leg and said,One felt a leg and said,

“It is like the trunk of a tree.”“It is like the trunk of a tree.”

One had grasped the tail One had grasped the tail and answered, and answered,

“How ridiculous! “How ridiculous! It is a rope.” It is a rope.”

A third countered,A third countered,

“You are slightly mistaken, “You are slightly mistaken, brother. It is somewhat like a brother. It is somewhat like a rope, but is actually a mighty rope, but is actually a mighty snake.”snake.”

He had touched the trunk.He had touched the trunk.

Another ran his hand across the Another ran his hand across the broad solid side of the beast and broad solid side of the beast and exclaimed,exclaimed,

“How can you be so deceived? “How can you be so deceived? Verily, it is a wall.”Verily, it is a wall.”

The last touched the elephant The last touched the elephant not at all, but heard him trumpet.not at all, but heard him trumpet.

He fled, for he He fled, for he thought the thought the Spirit of Death Spirit of Death was upon him.was upon him.

They were all correct insofar as They were all correct insofar as their data went. their data went.

Each in grasping a part of the Each in grasping a part of the truth had reached a different truth had reached a different

wrong conclusion.wrong conclusion.

Observation vs InferenceObservation vs Inference

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I put together these power points for I put together these power points for use in my science classes.use in my science classes.You may use them in your classes.You may use them in your classes.

Some images are public domain, Some images are public domain, some are used under the fair-use some are used under the fair-use provisions of the copyright law, some provisions of the copyright law, some are mine. Copyright is retained by are mine. Copyright is retained by the owners!the owners!

Ted BrattstromTed Brattstrom