Cohesive Neighborhoods

Abstract

An analogy can be made between scholars debating the definition of “neighborhood” and the Indian legend of the blind men and the elephant. A group of blind men touch an elephant to learn what it is like. Each one touches a different part, but only one part. They then compare notes on what they felt and learn that they are in disagreement. The analogy is used to indicate that reality may be viewed differently depending upon one’s perspective.1