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Whether you want to stimulate your own mind or start a deep and meaningful conversation, these thought provoking questions will really get you thinking.
Pondering deep and philosophical questions is a great way to learn more about yourself and focus on self-refection and introspection. They’re also fun to discuss with friends and a fantastic way to learn more about your partner.
Deep thought provoking questions
Some of best questions about the nature of reality and existence are unlikely to ever have a definitive answer. And that’s what makes them so fascinating to consider. There’s so much you can learn about yourself and others just by daring to explore the realm of the unknowable.
- What is the meaning of life?
- Why does God allow evil people to exist?
- Do we need to suffer to be human?
- Do thoughts control who we are?
- Can anything ever really be considered ‘true’ or is everything subjective?
- What makes something art?
- How much control does a person have over their life?
- Why are the dead respected more than the living?
- If you could make a perfect clone of yourself, would it be you?
- If humans have a soul, where is it?
- Is it better to have deep knowledge of a few things or a little knowledge of a lot of things?
- If humans believe in different Gods, how can they all be true?
- If free will doesn’t exist, would humans be happier?
- Is it possible to ever be truly free?
- Is it okay to do something wrong if no one ever knows you did it?
- Is it more valuable to be intelligent or wise?
- What is love?
- Is there an afterlife?
- Is it more important to be liked or respected?
- Does free will exist?
- What genetic change would make humans a better species?
- If you could choose immortality, would you?
- Did people invent math or has it always existed?
- Is mankind heading in the right direction?
- What’s the most likely way humans will go extinct?
- Could we be living in a computer simulation?
- Are acts of kindness ever really selfless?
- Can a person be happy if they don’t achieve anything?
- Is nature or nurture more important?
Controversial thought provoking questions
These questions are sure to spark interesting debate at your next party. Some of them might even push a few buttons, so try and encourage everyone to be tolerant of ideas that differ from their own.
- If you watch someone kill themselves and don’t try to stop them, are you responsible?
- Is it acceptable to prevent couples from having children to prevent the issues caused by overpopulation?
- Does a doctor deserve to get paid more than a garbage collector?
- Should there be a maximum amount of money people are allowed to earn to prevent the wealth gap?
- Is it acceptable to kill 1 person if killing them saves 1000 people?
- Is mercy more important than justice?
- Are all lives equal in value?
- Would it ever be ethical to read someone’s mind if the technology existed?
- Will racism ever end?
- Do guns protect people or kill people?
- Is torture ever justified?
- Would the world be a better place if religions were banned?
- Should people who live unhealthy lifestyles be taxed to fund the health system?
- If you knew there was a 50% chance someone was going to commit murder in the future, would you lock them up beforehand?
- Is government surveillance to keep people safe okay if you have nothing to hide?
- How much personal freedom should people be allowed to have?
- Should terminally ill people be allowed to commit suicide?
- Are wars ever justified?
- Should the government make organ donation compulsory?
- When does an embryo become a life?
- Should there ever be limits on free speech?
- Is it ethical to experiment on animals to save human lives?
Fun thought provoking questions
Not every thought provoking question needs to be a deadly serious exploration of the nature of reality. These questions are great fun to discuss at a party or just contemplate yourself when you’re taking time out from the hustle and bustle.
- How would humans react if aliens arrived on Earth?
- What’s the dumbest way you’ve ever hurt yourself?
- If you could time travel, what event in history would you witness?
- What fictional character would you most like to meet?
- What’s the worst back-handed compliment you can think of?
- Do you think people can really have psychic abilities?
- Would you prefer to be beautiful or smart?
- How do you think your future self will remember your current self?
- If you had to lose one body part, what would it be?
- What’s something people always say that’s completely false?
- Would you rather live in the past or take a chance on the unknown future?
- What superpower do you wish you could have?
- How would humanity change if everyone lived to 1000 years old?
- What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done and gotten away with?
- Who is the most beautiful celebrity (living or dead) in the history?
- If you had one day left to live, what would you spend it doing?
- What’s the worst smell in the world?
- What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever seen anyone do?
- What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever been fooled into beleiving?
- Who is the most attractive person on Earth?
- What’s the worst thing you’ve ever wasted money on?
- What’s the most useless talent you have?
- Would you rather have a low paying job you adore, or a high paying job you hate?
- What question would you most like the answer to?
- What’s the best book you’ve ever read?
- What person from history would you most like to have dinner with?
- What’s the worst thing you’ve ever cooked?
- What’s the closest thing you’ve ever seen to magic?
- If you to change your name, what would you change it to?
- What would you do if you could be invisible for a day?
- What two questions would you ask to find out the most about a person you just met?
- What do dreams mean?
- What is the most useless skill anyone can have?
- Is it okay to break the law to save someone you love?
- What’s the closest thing you’ve seen to magic?
- If you had a super yacht, what would you name it?
- Is there intelligent life on other planets?
- What one thing would you change about yourself?
- What amazing thing should every person experience at least once in their life?
- What’s something you have to force yourself not to do?
Thought provoking questions for couples
Whether you’re on a date or in a relationship, these thought provoking questions for couples are a great way to create a deeper emotional and physical connection with your partner.
You might think you know everything about your significant other, but I guarantee these questions will uncover something new and exciting!
- What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?
- If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
- What is your proudest achievement?
- Do you believe in soulmates or twin flames?
- What’s the best vacation you’ve ever had?
- What is your favorite sexual fantasy?
- How many times have you been in love?
- Who was your worst teacher? Why?
- Who is the most useless celebrity?
- If you could have dinner with anyone from history, who would it be?
- Who would play you in a movie of your life?
- What’s the right age to get married?
- Have you ever tried to change yourself for someone else?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years and 10 years from now?
- Is it more important for your child to be smart or kind?
- Which would you pick: being world-class attractive, a genius or famous for doing something great?
- Does your life match what you dreamed about as a child?
- What do you fear the most in life?
- What are your 3 favorite movies?
- How would you describe me in 1 sentence to your friends?
- What’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
- If you could eat only 3 foods for the rest of your life, what would they be?
- If you could have anything in the world, what would you have?
- What famous person do you admire the most?
- Who are the 3 greatest living musicians?
- What’s your biggest regret in life?
- What is the biggest myth about love and relationships?
- What couple do you look up to the most?
- What do you think is your best quality?
- What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
- Who was your favorite teacher? Why?
- Would you rather travel to the past or the future?
- Tell me the 3 best things about you.
- What’s your best childhood memory?
- What could you never forgive in a relationship?
- What does love mean to you?
- Have you ever been cheated on or cheated on someone?
- What’s the best gift you’ve ever received from a partner?
- What’s the most important thing you can teach a child?
- Do you have a ‘type’ that you look for in a partner?
- What was your favorite toy growing up?
- On a scale of 1-10, how strict are/were your parents?
- What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been?
- Has your idea of love changed over time?
- If you could have sex anywhere, where would you choose?
- What turns you on that isn’t obviously sexual?
- Who is your best friend in the world?
- Are white lies acceptable in a relationship?
- Would you rather be street smart or book smart?
- If you were invisible for two hours, what would you do?
- If you could time travel, where would you go?
- What quality do you find most attractive in person?
