Dealing with Chickens

Chickens are interesting creatures. There are currently more chickens than humans. Chickens have also become the focus of some of humankind's most philosophically-challenging questions. For example, which came first? The chicken, or the egg? And why did the chicken cross the road to get to the other side?

Starting with the latter, I have chosen to interpret this "joke" as indicative of the importance that "progress" plays in our society. The chicken crosses the road to move forward, the get to the other side so that it may continue its journey.

The former question is a little tougher. If you tried to explain it with evolution, you would have to define the exact moment the bird-ancestor evolved into the modern-day chicken. In a more abstract sense, the question would be one of a person's foundation (constructed from morals and beliefs). This question would be more personal, then, and not have a correct answer for the general society.