Wednesday, December 9, 2009

putting the chicken and the egg to a halt

Its disarming when philosophy disproves your notion. Just recently, I was so certain that it was the egg first before the chicken, that the idea of the egg was formed first before the chicken came to be. It was just a process of evolution that brought the chicken about.

Just few minutes ago, I was doing some online reading on philosophical inquiries and the argument from motion, my belief was shattered. Yes, the chicken came before the egg. The reason is:

“Since actuality precedes potentiality, the chicken precedes the egg.”

Both agreed upon by Aquinas and Aristotle. I am no philosopher, what can I say then? I have my Foreign Language class tomorrow and I don’t think this is of any relevance, why do I keep on digging into philosophy anyway? Now, I’m in too deep, so I would rather face it.


More than the chicken coming before the egg, the idea that actuality precedes potentiality has struck me in another way. As a writer, why do I read and research before I get into my writing. Why do I have to have my stories based on some facts when I can make it a whole lot different? I have a free world. The reason is just the same: actuality precedes potentiality - whatever is moved, is moved by another.

A touch of reality gives life to a dream. The present gives birth to the future. With what we experience, growth is bred, and so does wisdom.

Hopefully, this is the culmination of the chicken and the egg askance for me. I would rather be asked how I was made or how I came to be. I will definitely give you a reason or even a story that no philosopher can argue about.

…Sorry Dad, for being so nosy I read your college diary…I may be wrong about the chicken and the egg but I know exactly how I was made!!! :-)