<p>An ancient Buddhist parable details the attempts of several blind men to describe an elephant. On feeling the trunk, one proclaims it to be rather like a snake; while another, on feeling the ear, explains it is more like a fan; yet another, upon touching the legs, describes the beast as tree-like, and so on. Each makes valid and relevant claims in relation to the elephant but only when the findings of all contributors are combined does a clear image of the animal emerge (Ireland 1997).</p>