100 Thought-Provoking Philosophical Questions For Deep Meaningful Conversations

Have you ever sat among a group of friends and didn't have any input in the conversations and felt left out?

Maybe you are not the best conversationalist, yet you want to be someone who contributes something positive to the company you sit in. You might also want to impress some romantic interest of yours, but you have tried and failed to hold a conversation, leading to low self-esteem.

It's actually not so hard to have a conversation that makes you sound intelligent and funny at the same time. The most basic thing you can do is ask philosophical questions and know about the different perspectives of the people you hang out with. Apart from that, it can make you stand out from the crowd.

Philosophy is the study of theories about the most basic and most complicated aspects of life. This may include the existence of living beings, knowledge, things that logic dictates, or even related to knowledge.

Everyone has their point of view on life, they might now actively think about it all the time, but it makes interesting conversations when you touch on a specific part of someone's thought process.

Some Tips To Keep in Mind Before Asking Philosophical Questions

The best way to ask deep philosophical questions is to be as specific and precise as possible. Make sure to consider the viewpoint of the person you are asking the question to and frame the question in a way that will encourage them to think critically and explore the issue.

Additionally, try to phrase the question in a way that is open-ended and non-judgmental, allowing the other person to express their thoughts honestly and without feeling constrained.

Some more points you should keep in mind:

Remain open-minded and respect different perspectives
Avoid asking questions with a definitive answer
Ask questions that cause the person to ponder
Focus on questions that relate to the person's experiences
Consider questions that explore the meaning of life, morality, and values
Ask open-ended questions that invite conversation
Be aware of sensitive topics and show respect
Ask questions that require creative and critical thinking
Be mindful of the person’s comfort level

Below are lists of philosophical questions that would make you sound smart, funny, and curious in any sitting.

Most Basic Philosophical Questions

These are some of the most basic and simple philosophical questions that you can ask almost anyone.

What do you think is the purpose of life?
What do you think is the most important thing in life?
Do you think it's possible to have a meaningful life without taking risks?
How do you define success?
What do you think is the most important characteristic of a person?
Do you think that everyone has the potential to be successful?
What do you think is the best way to handle difficult situations?
Do you think that our actions determine our destiny?
Do you think that our beliefs shape our reality?
Do you think it's possible to truly understand someone else's experiences?

Funny Philosophical Questions

Philosophical questions don't necessarily have to be deep to be thought-provoking. Sometimes they can be simple, dumb, and funny questions. Here are some funny, philosophical questions to play with the minds of your audience:

Have you ever wondered how we get our towels dirty, although we always use them after cleaning ourselves?
If I am making an effort to fail, yet I succeed, did I fail or succeed?
Do you think anyone has ever imagined a color that has never been discovered?
How stupid does a driver have to be to yell at other drivers around him when they can't hear him?
No other species except us wear clothes; why is that?
Wouldn't we have already met time travelers if time travel had been discovered in the future?
Once the bus driver gets off, how does the bus door close?
If you are expecting something unexpected, will it make it something expected?
Among two mind readers, whose mind is being read?
Would it make your parent more approachable if they were a clown, or would it be the opposite?
What hair color does a bald man get written on his driver's license?
Have you imagined how a room of mirrors would look like without anyone present there?
Can you use disposable razors multiple times?
Why don't they make cat food that tastes like mice? Although, who would be willing to taste it?
If 9 out of 10 people are suffering from a certain disease, would it mean that the 10^th one is enjoying it?
At what specific age would you be referred to as an elderly person?
Do you think our pets give us names?
Is slapping someone with a dictionary considered physical assault or verbal?
Is there a synonym of the word "synonym"?
Isn't "quicksand" a stupid name if it makes you go down in it so slowly?
Wasn't Cinderella's shoe supposed to fit perfectly? Why did it fall off then?
Is it okay for a vegetarian to consume animal crackers?
Do you think milk could go bad inside a cow like it does when we leave it outside?
Who named creamless and sugarless coffee "black coffee"? Isn't it actually brown?
Scientists say that working out every day adds an hour to your life. Aren't we using that uselessly during our workouts?

Philosophical Questions about Existence

We have all wondered about our purpose in life, and these questions linger over our minds all our lives. Here are some philosophical questions about the existence of human beings:

What is more important? Being well respected or well-liked?
Why do a handful of people get to hoard so much money when there are children who are literally dying of hunger?
Can anyone define an actual fair society?
What triggers our brain to create art?
What is the beginning of time? Will there ever be an end to it?
Is man the master of his destiny, or does fate take care of it?
Will there ever come a time when man will outgrow religion?
What is the meaning of all the suffering humans go through in life?
Is happiness proportional to making ourselves better?
Can life be spent without a goal?
Is love simply actually a mere scientific reaction in the brain, or is it something real?
Are the new generations being born more sensitive?
Is it possible to achieve all the knowledge of the universe?
Can the reality of consciousness ever be found?
Is an evil person inherently evil, or does society plays its part?
Do our ancestors live on a parallel plane as ghosts, or is it just a myth?
Is there any way to find out the reality of the afterlife?
Does the modern world have freedom of art or expression?
Does the majority of holy and pious people tend to have blind faith?
Are dreams related to our future occurrences?

Deep Philosophical Questions

Sometimes we can even hit people with philosophical questions that provoke deep thoughts. Here is a list of deep philosophical questions:

Can religious beliefs hinder scientific knowledge?
Why does God let evil happen?
Wouldn't be there people who would believe a terrorist to be a freedom fighter?
Will we ever go extinct?
Is the meaning of life different for animals?
Does art progress society?
Who is free? Animals or humans?
Doesn't philosophy pose more questions than it answers?
Is morality objective or subjective?
Should humans go through life-altering experiences to live life properly?
Is human behavior definite? Or can it be changed?
Is the majority actually authority?
How would we have understood good if there was no evil?
Is there a universal definition for honour?
Is formal education necessary for someone to be considered educated?
Can we call ourselves civilised if there is so much disparity between the rich and the poor?
Is death ever good?
Why are we even doing anything if are going to die eventually?
Are we living in the Matrix?
What kind of change does power bring in a human?

Philosophical Questions about the Universe and Cosmos

No matter how religious or cynical, every human being has wondered how this universe came into being and how it works.

Here are some philosophical questions about the Universe and Cosmos:

Is there intelligent life anywhere else in the universe?
Chemical reactions are created out of stardust, but what about starlight? How did it get created?
Are we prepared for an alien invasion?
Is there a possibility that the multiverse theory might actually be true?
Are there stars and planets associated with our birth? Do they affect our lives?
If we discover life on other planets, will it be okay to exploit them if they aren't as tech-savvy as us?
Is the universe alive and conscious?
Do we live in a simulation created by aliens?
What is the beginning of time and space?
How do existence and evolution work?
Will we ever be able to travel through space as we travel through countries?
Do black holes make you time travel? How would we tell people if we experience it?
If you travel to the past, isn't that past now your present?
Was there anything prior to the big bang?
At the death of the last star, will the universe ever begin again?
Is God the absolute power over the universe?
Is there any effect of observation on any event?
What would be scarier? Finding out that we are the most advanced species in the universe or the most backward?

Philosophical Questions to Ask Your Own Self

Sometimes it's not just people we have to impress; we have to ask some questions of ourselves too.

Here are philosophical questions to provoke your thought process:

Why do we give more respect to the dead veterans than the living ones?
If it was possible to change human nature, would it be beneficial or harmful?
Are most of your beliefs true or false?
Is knowing our time of death beneficial?
Are all emotions valid?
Can there be any fair reason for torture?
Is happiness real, or is it a fake concept and the only thing we feel are moments of joy?
Is there a true definition of friendship?
Can we ever achieve perfection? If not, why do we work towards it?
How do you know if you love someone enough to propose to them for marriage?
Will more knowledge make you content or sadder?
Is there a way to find your goal or purpose in life?
If money can buy you things that make you happy, isn't it technically buying happiness?
How can you measure true strength?
What's more important: doing the right thing or doing everything properly?
Is there a way to calculate true genius?
If you forget everything that ever happened in your life, what kind of a person would you become?

These questions will bring you to the limelight in your group and help you connect with others deeply. You can also ask funny and juicy questions or would you rather do this or that questions to know someone even better.

Do you have a personal deeply philosophical question that you use often? If so, please share it with others too in comment.