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Philosophical questions about human nature and the human condition
- SavedWhat harsh truths do you prefer to ignore?
- SavedIs free will real or just an illusion?
- SavedIs there a meaning to life? If so, what is it?
- SavedWhere is the line between art and not art?
- SavedWhat should be the goal of humanity?
- SavedDoes fate exist? If so, do we have free will?
- SavedWhat does it mean to live a good life?
- SavedWhy do we dream?
- SavedWhere does your self-worth come from?
- SavedHow will humans as a species go extinct?
- SavedIs it possible to live a normal life and not ever tell a lie?
- SavedDoes a person’s name influence the person they become?
- SavedIs the meaning of life the same for animals and humans?
- SavedIs humanity headed in the right or wrong direction?
- SavedDoes the study of philosophy ever lead to answers or simply more questions?
- SavedWhat is the best way for a person to attain happiness?
- SavedWhat is the most important goal every person should have?
- SavedIs it better to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond?
- SavedWhat are you capable of achieving?
- SavedBy what standards do you judge yourself?
- SavedCan human nature be changed? Should it be changed?
- SavedHow replaceable are you?
- SavedIf you had to guess, what do you think would be the most likely way you’ll die?
- SavedIs it better for a person to have a broad knowledge base or a deep knowledge base?
- SavedIf someone you loved was killed in front of you, but someone created a copy of them that was perfect right down to the atomic level, would they be the same person and would you love them just as much?
- SavedIf you could become immortal on the condition you would NEVER be able to die or kill yourself, would you choose immortality?
- SavedWhat actions in your life will have the longest reaching consequences? How long will those effects be felt?
- SavedHow long will you be remembered after you die?
- SavedIf a child somehow survived and grew up in the wilderness without any human contact, how “human” would they be without the influence of society and culture?
- SavedHow would humanity change if all humans’ life expectancy was significantly increased (let’s say to around 500 years)?
- SavedWhere do you find meaning in your life?
- SavedWhat do you think would be humanity’s reaction to the discovery of extraterrestrial life?
- SavedWill religion ever become obsolete?
- SavedIf you could teach everyone in the world one concept, what concept would have the biggest positive impact on humanity?
- SavedIs suffering a necessary part of the human condition? What would people who never suffered be like?
- SavedDoes hardship make a person stronger? If so, under what conditions and at what point is it too much hardship? If not, what makes a person stronger?
- SavedWould things get better or worse if humans focused on what was going well rather than what’s going wrong?
- SavedWhat benefits does art provide society? Does art hurt society in any way?
- SavedHow likely do you think it will be that humans will last another 1,000 years without killing ourselves off?
- SavedWhat do you attribute the biggest successes in your life to? How about your largest failures?
- SavedIf freedom is simply being able to do what you want, are animals freer than humans?
- SavedWould you want to know you are going to die beforehand or die suddenly without warning?
- SavedWhat is the best way to train people to see the gray in the world around them instead of just a simplistic “this is good, that is wrong” view of the world?
- SavedIs intelligence or wisdom more useful?
- SavedWhich of your beliefs are justified and which ones aren’t?
- SavedWhat do you contribute back to society?
- SavedWhat are you going to do with the one life you have?
- SavedIs it more important to help yourself, help your family, help your society, or help the world?
- SavedWhat life-altering things should every human ideally get to experience at least once in their lives?
- SavedWhy don’t we as a species take more advantage of the fact that we have almost infinite knowledge available to us?
- SavedWhat two questions would you ask to get the most information about who a person truly is?
- SavedSome people believe that if life has no purpose, then there is no reason for living. While others think that if life has no purpose, that frees a person to find or create and follow their own personal purpose. Which is a more valid point of view or are they both equally valid?
- SavedDoes absolute power corrupt absolutely?
- SavedWhy do we judge ourselves by our intentions but judge others by their actions?
- SavedWhat activities cause you to feel like you are living life to the fullest?
- SavedDoes knowledge have intrinsic value or does it need to have a practical use to have value?
- SavedWhat would you genetically change about humans to make them a better species?
- SavedHow important is play in living a healthy and fulfilling life?
- SavedWhere do you think is the most worthwhile place to find meaning in life? Work, family, hobby, religion, philosophy, helping others, all the small miracles, or something else entirely?
- SavedWhat is the biggest waste of human potential?
- SavedIs a life that focuses on avoiding pain and seeking out pleasure a good and worthwhile life? Why or why not?
- SavedDoes jealousy have value in driving humans to improve themselves or is it a purely negative emotion?
- SavedWhat percentage of your life do you feel truly alive? When do you feel that way? How can you feel that way more often?
- SavedWhat do you think your future self will remember about you now?
- Saved“Know thyself” is an ancient concept going back much further than Socrates and is at the root of much of philosophy. With that in mind, what are the most important things to learn about one’s self or is all self-knowledge equal?
We have a few more questions about human nature on our deep conversation topics page.
Fun philosophical questions
- SavedCan a tribute band play a song more honestly than the band that wrote it?
- SavedIf your cat moves in with the neighbors, who gets to decide where it belongs?
- SavedHow many times can you flip a coin before you’re no longer letting it decide?
- SavedAt what point is a ketchup bottle actually empty?
- SavedIf a parrot insults you, who owes you an apology?
- SavedHow long does a chair stay yours after you leave your jacket on it?
- SavedHow much of a cake must you bake yourself before it’s homemade?
- SavedCan you be the world’s best beginner?
- SavedHow long can you borrow a friend’s lawn mower before maintaining it becomes partly your job?
- SavedCan you be bad at relaxing?
- SavedIs a prank still a prank if the victim never finds out?
- SavedIf your dog learns to fetch your slippers but charges a biscuit, who trained whom?
- SavedWhy does a sandwich taste better when someone else makes it, and should that count when judging the sandwich?
- SavedIs it fair to give the smallest person the smallest piece of cake?
- SavedHow many farewell tours can a band take before the farewell stops meaning anything?
- SavedWhat does a standing ovation mean when everyone stands because they can’t see?
- SavedWhat makes a pillow fort private property when all the pillows belong to your parents?
- SavedHow much control over dinner have you given up by saying you’ll eat anything?
- SavedWhen does applauding a terrible singer become lying?
- SavedWhen does a surprise party become an ambush?
- SavedHow many people must mispronounce a menu item before the waiter becomes the one saying it wrong?
- SavedHow many people can you let ahead of you before you’re delaying everyone behind you?
- SavedHow much of a borrowed pencil can you sharpen away before you owe someone a pencil?
Philosophical questions about life
- SavedCan you regret a choice without wishing you’d chosen differently?
- SavedHow much should luck reduce the pride you take in hard work?
- SavedHow much evidence do you need before giving up on a dream?
- SavedIs rest something you have to earn?
- SavedIf you enjoy your routine, what would make it a rut?
- SavedWhat makes a fresh start more than giving your old problems a new address?
- SavedIf you could measure happiness exactly, should you organize your life around the score?
- SavedWhen does preparing for life get in the way of having one?
- SavedDoes having an easy life make your small problems less real?
Philosophical questions about love and friendship
- SavedWhat can you honestly promise when you promise to love someone forever?
- SavedIf someone is perfect for you but you don’t love them, what are they perfect for?
- SavedHow much responsibility do you have for falling in love with someone you knew you shouldn’t?
- SavedDoes jealousy ever give you a fair claim on what your partner does?
- SavedDo you owe a friend an explanation for no longer wanting to be friends?
- SavedHow much should your oldest friend’s opinion count when they barely know your current life?
- SavedCan you betray someone by telling them a truth they asked to hear?
- SavedWhat do you owe a friend who loves you more than you love them?
- SavedHow much of loving someone is agreeing to be inconvenienced?
- SavedWhat gives a romantic partner priority over a friend who has known you much longer?
- SavedCan someone love you well while understanding you badly?
Philosophical questions about death and time
- SavedWhy might never having been born trouble you less than no longer being alive?
- SavedHow long should the dead get a say in what the living do with their possessions?
- SavedWhose wishes should a funeral serve when the dead person and the mourners wanted different things?
- SavedCan you wrong a dead person if no living person ever finds out?
- SavedIs it fair to remember someone mainly for the worst thing they ever did?
- SavedIf everyone eventually forgets you, what exactly has been lost?
- SavedIf the afterlife lets you watch your family, do they still deserve privacy from you?
- SavedWhat age should you be in an afterlife that claims to restore the real you?
- SavedCould heaven stay perfect if you were allowed to get bored?
- SavedIf nothing anywhere changed, would time still pass?
- SavedWhere does yesterday exist now?
- SavedWhy should something hurting tomorrow worry you more than the same thing having hurt yesterday?
Philosophical questions about the universe and reality
- SavedWhat do you think existed before the universe was created?
- SavedWhat in life is truly objective and not subjective?
- SavedIs it possible for a human to fathom the true depths of reality and existence?
- SavedIf the universe is finite, what would beyond the edge of the universe be like?
- SavedIs there inherent order in nature or is it all chaos and chance?
- SavedWhat is the best path to find truth: science, math, art, philosophy, or something else?
- SavedIs math something that humans created or something we discovered? Is looking at reality mathematically an accurate representation of how things work?
- SavedThere has always been something. Before there was something, there was only nothing. Which do you think is more likely?
- SavedAs more and more is being discovered about quantum physics, we become less and less able to comprehend the nature of reality. Is this something temporary and our minds will adapt and begin to understand this new reality or is it possible that the human mind will soon reach its limits of comprehension? If it’s only temporary, is there a limit to what the human mind can comprehend? If we are reaching our limits, how do we continue to study our reality?
- SavedIf the universe was made by accident, could it still have a purpose?
- SavedIf our universe is a simulation, what would make the world outside it more real?
- SavedWould creating a simulated universe give its creators the right to destroy it?
- SavedShould we try to contact whoever runs a simulation if getting noticed could get us switched off?
- SavedWould knowing God exists tell us which religion, if any, is right?
- SavedIf God already knows what you need, what does asking add to a prayer?
- SavedIf two people pray for opposite outcomes, what would a fair answer look like?
- SavedIf your religion depends mostly on where you were born, how sure can you be that it’s right?
Philosophical questions about the human mind, consciousness, and intelligence
- SavedIs happiness just chemicals flowing through your brain or something more?
- SavedWhy are humans so susceptible to magical thinking?
- SavedIf every neuron in a human was accurately simulated in a computer, would it result in human consciousness?
- SavedIs it possible that some animals are self-aware and think about their ability to think?
- SavedHow do you define consciousness?
- SavedIs it possible to prove that other people besides yourself have consciousness?
- SavedHow conscious do you think animals are?
- SavedHow would you define genius?
- SavedHow much does language affect our thinking?
- SavedWhy are humans so confident in beliefs that can’t be proven?
- SavedAre there limits to human creativity?
- SavedIf all your memories were erased, what kind of person would you be?
- SavedWhy do humans have such a strong urge to distract ourselves from the real world?
- SavedCan rational thought exist without language?
- SavedWhat is the benefit of consciousness from an evolutionary standpoint?
- SavedWould you be able to tell if time had been altered in some way?
- SavedWould it be more frightening to discover that humans are the most advanced species in the universe or that we are far from being the most advanced species in the universe?
- SavedThere is zero chance that ALL your firmly and dearly held beliefs are true. So, which of your beliefs are most likely to be wrong and which are most liable to be true?
- SavedAssuming evolution is correct, do you think that if humans went extinct another species as intelligent as humans would evolve? If life exists long enough on a planet, is intelligence and consciousness inevitable?
- SavedIs the concept of “you” continuous or does past “you” continually fade into present and future “you”? In other words, what part of “you” sticks around over time considering that the atoms that make up your body are constantly being replaced and your memories are always changing?
- SavedIs it possible that someone’s genes might affect their political leanings? If no, why not? If so, what would be the ramifications?
- SavedWould selectively breeding an animal such as a dog based on intelligence increase its intelligence over time? If so, how intelligent could dogs become? If not, how does intelligence emerge in a species?
- SavedWhy do we resist doing things that we know are good for our well-being while craving things that are detrimental to our well-being?
- SavedIs it possible for humans to create something completely novel and new that is based on nothing that previously existed? Or is human creativity just rearranging and building on previous ideas?
- SavedIf there existed a perfect clone of you, would it also be you? Would it act in exactly the same manner as you (like a mirror) or would it act differently? If it acted differently then would it still be you? At what point would it not be you?
- SavedYour perception of the world is just what your brain constructs for you from the signals sent by your senses. Plus, there is a slight delay, so you aren’t even experiencing the simulation in real time. What would it be like if humans could perceive what the world is actually like and do it in real time? Also, what are the ramifications of every single person’s reality being a little different and unique to them?
- SavedIf language influences how we perceive color, what other things could languages be changing our perception of?
- SavedIs a sense of humor a byproduct of consciousness or something else entirely?
- SavedAre intelligence and happiness tied together in any way? If you are highly intelligent, is it more likely that you’ll be more, or less happy?
- SavedHuman memory has been shown to be incredibly unreliable. With that in mind, how do you know which of your memories are genuine and which have been altered or made up?
- SavedDifferent people and different organisms perceive reality in vastly different ways. With that in mind, what is real and what is just our perception of reality? Or does every organism live in its own personal reality?
Ethics and morality philosophical questions
- SavedWhen, if ever, is taking a human life justified?
- SavedCan animals have morals?
- SavedWithout religion would people become more, less, or be equally morally corrupt?
- SavedWhat rights does every human have? Do those rights change based on age?
- SavedIs justice a human construct or is it independent of humans?
- SavedWhy do people expect a universe full of randomness to be fair?
- SavedWith no laws or rules to influence your behavior, how do you think you would behave?
- SavedWhat would be the most ethical way to give away five million dollars?
- SavedIs privacy a right?
- SavedAre people ethically obligated to improve themselves?
- SavedShould there be limitations on the right to free speech?
- SavedShould euthanasia be legal? Why or why not?
- SavedWhat’s the difference between justice and revenge?
- SavedDo business owners have the right to refuse service to customers?
- SavedIf doing something good for others makes us feel good, can there ever be such a thing as pure altruism?
- SavedWhat is your definition of evil?
- SavedDo all people have equal value regardless of their actions or is a person’s value based on their actions?
- SavedWhy are humans so fascinated by mass murderers if their actions are universally considered evil and vile?
- SavedIf babies are considered innocent, when do people cease to be innocent?
- SavedHow much effort should an individual put into not offending others?
- SavedWhy do humans often associate beauty with morality?
- SavedIf you could press a button and receive a million dollars, but one stranger would die, would you press the button? And if so, how many times?
- SavedIf humanity was put on trial by an advanced race of aliens, how would you defend humanity and argue for its continued existence?
- SavedDo animals have rights and do those rights extend to all animals or do the rights change based on the complexity of the animal?
- SavedAt what point is overthrowing a government ethical, considering all the violence a revolution usually entails?
- SavedCan morality ever be objective or is it always subjective? If it can be objective, in what instances? If it’s always subjective, how do we decide whose concept of morality is correct?
- SavedAre intentions or outcomes more important when judging whether actions are moral?
- SavedIf it was discovered that most animals were conscious of their existence and eventual death, what would be the ramifications of that discovery?
- SavedIf it was discovered that personality traits were partly genetic and could be removed with gene therapy, would it be ethical to edit out negative character traits that harm others like extreme aggression, compulsive lying, or cruelty?
- SavedIf scientists could accurately predict who was more likely to commit crimes, what should society do with that information?
- SavedIf you can save another’s life and don’t because doing so would break the law, are you ethically justified in your decision?
- SavedAre all individuals morally obligated to save another person’s life if they are able? What if that person lives in another country?
- SavedIs it just and right to deny entry to a country when doing so probably means death for the immigrant and their family?
- SavedShould we terraform planets if it means that we may be destroying undiscovered microscopic alien life?
- SavedDoes anonymity encourage people to misbehave or does it reveal how people would choose to act all the time if they could?
- SavedWhat is the most fertile soil for hatred? Fear, ignorance, jealousy, or something else entirely? Is it possible that some people are genetically predisposed to hatred?
- SavedAs people, we feel our moral obligation weaken with physical as well as emotional distance from individuals in need. For example, you’re more likely to help someone dying of hunger at your feet than someone dying of hunger in another country. How does this human trait of morality dependent on distance shape our world?
- SavedIf I steal a loaf of bread from you and eat it, when does the bread itself cease to be yours and become mine?
Philosophical questions about society and government
- SavedIf you could start a country from scratch, what would it be like?
- SavedWould the world be a better or worse place if everyone looked the same?
- SavedWhat causes the most harm in the world, but is completely avoidable?
- SavedHow far should governments go to prevent their citizens from causing harm to themselves?
- SavedDo people in wealthier countries have a moral obligation to help those in poorer countries?
- SavedWhat should the role of a government be, what boundaries and limitations should it have?
- SavedIs poverty in society inevitable?
- SavedHow should we measure the productivity of a society?
- SavedWhat would a utopia be like, how would it function and continue to exist?
- SavedWhat is the biggest threat to the social contract in our country?
- SavedIf everyone said what they were actually thinking, what would happen to society?
- SavedWhat are the benefits and drawbacks of diversity in society?
- SavedCould societies exist without a way to transfer value (i.e. without money or a barter system)?
- SavedWhat would happen if a maximum income was put in place?
- SavedWhat will the economy of wealthy countries look like in 50 to 100 years?
- SavedWhat is the most important right our government allows for?
- SavedHas social media been a net positive or a net negative for our society? Why?
- SavedWhat do you think the long-term effects of so many people being glued to their screens will be?
- SavedShould taxpayers have the option to explicitly say what they don’t want their tax dollars spent on?
- SavedCan a society exist without laws?
- SavedWill humanity ever be able to escape tribalism and the creation of in and out groups? Should it?
- SavedHow much privacy are you willing to sacrifice for safety?
- SavedHow would the world change if there was an accurate measure of aptitude?
- SavedIs hierarchy necessary for all successful human communities?
- SavedIs some degree of censorship necessary?
- SavedWhat are the biggest moral dilemmas your country is facing now?
- SavedIf all humans want the same basic things, why is there so much violence and strife between people?
- SavedIs the cultural trend of individualism and the rejection of collectivism a beneficial or detrimental trend?
- SavedIs the human tendency to create groups an overall positive or a negative trait in terms of general human flourishing?
- SavedWhat would happen to a society in which no one had to work, and everyone was provided enough food, water, shelter and healthcare for free?
- SavedDo you think there will ever be a global government? If a world government did come to power, assuming it wasn’t particularly cruel or evil, would it be a good or bad thing?
- SavedWould a government run with algorithms, A.I., and statistics be better or worse than the government we have now?
- SavedIs it more or less difficult to be successful in the modern world than it was in the past (10, 50, 100, or 1,000 years ago)?
- SavedConsidering that the technology exists to enable a real democracy, would a true democracy (every single person can vote on every single legislation) be advantageous or detrimental?
- SavedUnder our government are there any rights that you have but shouldn’t? How about rights you don’t have but should?
- SavedHow would society change if men were able to get pregnant and men and women both had an equal chance of getting pregnant?
- SavedWhy have many societies begun to place such a high value on emotions and being emotional?
- SavedIs it right or wrong that everyone seems to be accustomed to the fact that all of humanity and most of the life on Earth could be wiped out at the whim of a handful of people?
- SavedIn an ideal government, what should a good citizen provide to their government and what should that government provide that good citizen?
- SavedWas the agricultural revolution and the explosion of civilizations that came from it an overall good thing for humans or a negative? In other words, would it have been better or worse for people to stay in small tribes?
- SavedDoes marriage as an institution need to be updated or is it fine how it is?
- SavedIf you were given the ability to reform how your country’s leaders were chosen and how they serve, what would you change?
We also have a few more questions about society, culture, and the world on another page.
Philosophical questions about science and technology
- SavedAt what point is a technologically enhanced human not a human anymore?
- SavedDoes the modern age make global conspiracies more or less feasible?
- SavedIs technological advancement a net positive or a net negative?
- SavedIs technological progress inevitable as long as humans exist or can it be stopped?
- SavedWhat scientific breakthrough would have the biggest effect on humanity?
- SavedWhy did technology progress more slowly in the past than it does now?
- SavedShould full access to the internet be a fundamental human right?
- SavedHas the invention of the atomic bomb made the world a more peaceful place?
- SavedDo you think the singularity will occur? If so, what time frame do you think it will happen in?
- SavedIs there a limit to what humans can create through technology and science?
- SavedWill we keep leaping to even greater technological and scientific breakthroughs that radically change society, or will the rate of progress slow and humanity’s progress be limited to incremental improvements?
- SavedIf a robust and cheap genetic engineering industry existed, would you have your genes edited? If so, what genetic changes would you choose to make? If not, why not?
- SavedAssume that in the future there will be huge leaps in human augmentation. Given a scale from completely human to completely machine, how far would you choose to augment yourself with robotics? What parts would you augment and why?
- SavedIf the transporters in Star Trek existed and you used one, your particles would be disassembled and then reassembled. Do you die every single time? Are you ever alive at two places at once? Are you ever completely dead?
- SavedIf emotions are the product of biochemical reactions, then in the future we will be theoretically able to control them. If we could control emotions through technology, should we?
- SavedIf an AI writes a poem that describes your grief perfectly, whose understanding are you responding to?
- SavedCan an AI write your wedding vows honestly if you mean every word?
- SavedWhat would an AI friend need to be able to refuse before you could call it a friend?
- SavedIf you restore yourself from yesterday’s backup, who is responsible for what you did today?
- SavedWhat makes a deepfake harmful when everyone watching knows it’s fake?
- SavedIf your phone remembers something you don’t, in what sense do you still know it?
- SavedWhat makes checking your phone a choice when you do it before noticing you wanted to?
- SavedWho is responsible when everyone reasonably trusts an AI and it gets something disastrously wrong?
- SavedWhat should remain difficult even if technology could make it effortless?
For some more questions about the future of the human race check out our deep conversation topics page.
Philosophical questions PDF
Here is a PDF of all our philosophical questions.