2006-10-11 09:33:53 · 18 answers · asked by Melissa R 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
The chicken or the egg is a reference to the causality dilemma which arises from the expression "which came first, the chicken or the egg?". Since both the chicken and the egg create the other in certain circumstances (a chicken emerges from an egg; an egg is laid by a chicken) it is ambiguous which originally gave rise to the other. Purely logical attempts to resolve the dilemma result in an infinite regress, since an egg was caused by a chicken, which was caused by an egg, etc. Since every chicken originates from its egg, it seems obvious the egg came first. Put simply, the reason is down to the fact that genetic material does not change during an animal's life. The solution may require an examination of syntax and may rely on verification from advances in modern genetic science. When used in reference to difficult problems of causality, the chicken and egg dilemma is often used to appeal to the futility of debate and lay it to rest.
History of the problem
The earliest reference to the dilemma is found in Plutarch's Moralia, in the books titled "Table Talk," in a series of arguments based on questions posed in a symposium. Under the section entitled, "Whether the hen or the egg came first," the discussion is introduced in such a way as to suggest that the origin of the dilemma was even older:
"...the problem about the egg and the hen, which of them came first, was dragged into our talk, a difficult problem which gives investigators much trouble. And Sulla my comrade said that with a small problem, as with a tool, we were rocking loose a great and heavy one, that of the creation of the world..."
Various answers have been formulated in response to the question, many of them humorous.
2006-10-11 13:24:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Chicken.
2006-10-11 10:03:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The egg if you believe in evolution.
The pre-chicken that laid the first egg would have been genetically different enough to be classified as something other than a normal chicken.
The chicken if you believe in creationism.
And God said let there be chicken's...
Still a toss up if you believe life came to earth on spaceships.
Bring the actually thing in suspended animation or bring the egg???
For me I kind of don't care, I'm just glad they exist. They taste good.
2006-10-11 09:47:11 · answer #3 · answered by John 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the chicken was needed to make the egg but the chicken came from the egg so I would say both
2006-10-11 10:15:33 · answer #4 · answered by Quarion Silverdusk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's been asked before. Eggs came first, although not the eggs of what we know as a chicken today.
2006-10-11 09:36:51 · answer #5 · answered by Jethro 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The chicken, to lay the egg. Don't ask me how the chicken got there!
2006-10-11 09:36:36 · answer #6 · answered by amp 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The chicken
2006-10-11 09:36:18 · answer #7 · answered by kiki Dee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Chicken!!!
2006-10-11 09:41:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The egg!!! because it comes from an evolution chain where the chicken egg evolve from a another species.
2006-10-11 09:46:57 · answer #9 · answered by Gulembo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'd have to say the chicken and the egg came later as due to evolution. just look at snakes, some have them with eggs and some without.
2006-10-11 09:36:20 · answer #10 · answered by WreckinShop 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋