With deep conversations, people can express their thoughts and feelings more authentically. They are not confined to a set of predetermined phrases or ideas that make up a formal conversation.
On the other hand, they can use the convo to embody their free will and answer all the questions they have on a deeper level. This is why I am a total fan of existential questions. They show you who you are talking to.
The person you’re talking to can use their own words and share what is on their mind without the fear of judgment because only the person they are speaking to can hear what is being said.
40 Funny Existential Questions About Life
Here are a few philosophical questions and conversation starters for any human being:
1. What is the meaning of life?
2. Is there an afterlife?
3. What is the purpose of life?
4. Do we really have free will?
5. Do we have a soul?
6. Is there a god?
7. What is the difference between right and wrong?
8. What are you most thankful for?
9. What’s the best conspiracy theory you can make up on the spot?
10. What is a relationship deal-breaker for you?
11. What gross and unhygienic things do people do that bother you?
12. What if you found out that you were the star of The Truman Show?
13. Where is the craziest place you have danced?
14. What would you do if you found out you were adopted?
15. If you got put into a room for eternity with people who died the same way you died, how would you want to die?
16. What’s the one thing you would like to change about yourself?
17. What would an amusement park filled with your biggest fears be like? What rides would it have?
18. Are you more into looks or brains?
19. If jobs/careers had slogans, what would be some of their slogans?
20. What’s your favorite book/movie of all time, and why did it speak to you so much?
21. Why do you think we dream?
22. Do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert?
23. If you could switch genders for a length of your choosing, would you? And if so, for how long?
24. What is the greatest struggle you’ve overcome?
25. What inedible thing do you wish you could eat?
26. Would you ever take back someone who cheated?
27. Which hairstyles fit with which personalities?
28. Are you religious or spiritual?
29. If you could choose the next president of the United States, who would it be?
30. What is your idea of a perfect vacation?
31. What’s the most stress-relieving thing you can get/do for less than $20?
32. When have you felt your biggest adrenaline rush?
33. What silly thing do you take a lot of pride in?
34. What would you sing at karaoke night?
35. If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?
36. If money was no object, what would you do all day?
37. If you were a superhero, what powers would you have?
38. Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?
39. List two pet peeves.
40. How would your friends describe you?
See also: 200 Best What If Questions That Will Spark Fascinating Discussions
40 Questions To Blow Your Mind
Next up are a few questions that will leave you thinking:
1. Have you ever told a lie that you regretted?
2. What is your most terrible memory?
3. Have you ever shoplifted anything?
4. What is your most treasured memory?
5. Do you think anyone can cheat, or do you think only cheaters cheat?
6. What do you value most in a friendship?
7. Are you a morning or a night person?
8. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?
9. What what the most intense experience you’ve had in your life?
10. Is there something you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?
11. Have you ever had an epiphany? If so, what was it like for you?
12. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?
13. What are some of your favorite books?
14. If you could change anything about how you were raised, what would it be?
15. What was the most important lesson you’ve learned from a past relationship?
16. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?
17. What is your star sign? And do you believe in astrology?
18. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?
19. What are your favorite hobbies?
20. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
21. How would you describe your first crush?
22. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?
23. What does spirituality mean to you?
24. Would you like to be famous? In what way?
25. Who was your favorite cartoon character when you were a kid?
26. If someone gave you enough money to start a business – no strings attached – what kind of business would you want to create and why?
27. If you could have three wishes, what would they be?
28. Tell me about a relationship issue you’re having, and ask me for advice on how to fix it.
29. How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?
30. What do you miss about being a kid?
31. Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other people’s?
32. What’s your favorite memory we’ve shared together? Gimme as many details as possible.
33. Share something you consider a positive characteristic of your partner. Share a total of five items.
34. Who or what has changed your life?
35. What roles do love and affection play in your life?
36. What’s your ideal weekend?
37. What does friendship mean to you?
38. Who do you trust?
39. If you knew that you would die suddenly in one year, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?
40. What’s your favorite family tradition?
See also: A Collection Of Getting To Know You Questions For A Deeper Insight
40 Thought-Provoking Question Examples
Given enough time, here are a few existential questions you can ask almost anyone:
1. How do we know what happens after death?
2. Why do bad things happen to good people?
3. If you could dedicate your life to solving one problem, what problem would you choose?
4. How do we know what the meaning of life is?
5. What’s the most unpleasant sounding word?
6. What is the real reason for our existence?
7. What would you do if one day you woke up and every person was just gone without a trace?
8. What’s the most exciting thing that happened this past year?
9. What’s the biggest lie that a guy has told you?
10. If you were in a bad mood, would you prefer to be left alone or have someone cheer you up?
11. When was the last time you had a gut feeling about something that turned out to be correct? How about a time your gut feeling was wrong?
12. Have you ever lost someone close to you?
13. If you were given $20,000, but it could only be used to upgrade your shower or bathtub, what upgrades would you make?
14. Who is that one person you can talk to about just anything?
15. What songs can you sing that I’ll know after hearing two words from the song?
16. Do you believe in second chances?
17. What is your ideal meal?
18. What are three things you value most about a person?
19. What options would come up if you could “right-click” people?
20. What was the best phase in your life?
21. If everything was quantified, what life stats would you like to see for yourself?
22. Which parent are you closer to and why?
23. If you were forced to create a new dance move, what would it be, and what would you call it?
24. What did your past relationship teach you?
25. What’s the best gag gift you’ve ever seen or gotten?
26. Is what you’re doing now what you always wanted to do growing up?
27. Looking back on your life, what have you done to give you the most satisfaction?
28. What’s your favorite hobby to do alone?
29. What do you think people automatically assume about you when they look at you?
30. What accomplishment are you most proud of?
31. If you could hear every time someone said something good about you or something negative about you, which would you choose?
32. What’s your philosophy in life?
33. Would you go through a boyfriend’s phone if you could?
34. What’s something you learned recently that you really should have already known?
35. What’s your “and then it got worse” story?
36. Do you usually stay friends with your exes?
37. What’s your favorite book/movie of all time, and why did it speak to you so much?
38. What is the worst gift you have received?
39. Why did your last relationship end?
40. What’s the best piece of advice someone has given you?
See also: 66 Thought-Provoking Questions That Are Better Than Small Talk
40 What Is The Meaning Of Life And Existence Questions
Last but not least is a list of existential questions about human existence:
1. Would you rather have your well-being or a life change?
2. Would you relocate for love?
3. Is there a tie between the Big Bang and the human race?
4. What was the worst phase in your life?
5. What is the purpose of human life on earth?
6. Who was your favorite teacher, and why?
7. Would you move with your loved ones to New York?
8. What is your greatest fear?
9. Do you think eternal life is possible?
10. When was the last time you broke someone’s heart?
11. What would be the worst thing to put into a piñata?
12. What makes you feel accomplished?
13. What are you most grateful for?
14. What’s the one thing that people always misunderstand about you?
15. What country can you name but besides the name, you know almost nothing else about it?
16. What is one dream you have yet to accomplish?
17. What’s something weird that you recommend everyone try at least once?
18. What do you think about when you’re by yourself?
19. Have you ever trusted your boyfriend to buy clothes for you?
20. What jobs exist because people are selfish?
21. What do you wish you could re-live in your lifetime?
22. What’s your biggest regret in life?
23. If you inherited a private jet from a stranger, what would you do with it?
24. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done, and would you do it again?
25. What weird smell do you really enjoy?
26. How do you feel about sharing your password with your partner?
27. What’s the best practical joke you’ve pulled or seen pulled?
28. What’s on your bucket list this year?
29. What kinds of things are normal now but will be highly valued antiques a century later?
30. Do you like or dislike surprises? Why or why not?
31. What do you most look forward to about getting old?
32. If you were given immortality, but there was one condition, what would stop you from accepting immortality?
33. What piece of culture or trend has died out, but you would like to see it make a comeback?
34. If you were given $15,000 to give the most amount of happiness to the most amount of people, what would you do?
35. Is flirting cheating?
36. Do you prefer being warmed when you’re too cold or being cooled when you’re too hot?
37. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done for love?
38. What was something you regularly ate as a child but now cringe at eating?
39. What snack can you just not get enough of?
40. If you were an action figure, what accessories would you be sold with?
See also: 210 Deep Questions To Ask And Explore Someone’s Mind
40 Deep Question Ideas
Going through an existential crisis? Here are a few questions to aid it:
1. What’s one thing I don’t already know about you?
2. Have you ever done something you regretted?
3. What’s your least favorite food?
4. Do you ever make excuses for your bad behavior?
5. If you had to eat only one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
6. What do you think the solution is to climate change?
7. What impresses you?
8. Do you think psychics are psychic?
9. What would be a perfect day for you?
10. What is your favorite workout?
11. If you redesigned society, what would you change?
12. How do you think you’d be different if you were raised in a different family?
13. What would you do if you found out you had a year to live?
14. What is the most important lesson you’ve learned this year?
15. What makes you feel nostalgic?
16. What superpowers did you wish you had when you were a kid?
17. Do you get déjà vu? What does it feel like for you?
18. What did you want to be when you grew up?
19. What do you think prevents people from manifesting their dreams?
20. Are you a mountain or a beach person?
21. Do you believe in good and evil?
22. What is your spirit animal?
23. Is there anything from the 1980s that you wish would come back?
24. What are your passions in life?
25. What do you think makes a meaningful life?
26. Have you ever had your heart broken? What did it feel like to you?
27. What is your Achilles heel (your weak spot)?
28. What type of music energizes you?
29. When you see your family, what do you do together?
30. Are you still friends with anyone from high school?
31. If you were to replace “hello” with another word as a greeting, what word would that be?
32. What was your favorite subject or class in high school?
33. What is one accomplishment that you’re proud of?
34. What was the most memorable experience from your childhood?
35. Have you ever been camping? Did you like it?
36. How do you relax when you’re stressed out?
37. Who is your doppelganger?
38. What is a skill that you want to build?
39. What is your favorite place in the whole world?
40. If you could change one decision you made when you were younger, what would it be and why?
See also: 200 Deep Personal Questions To Ask A Guy And A Girl
What Are The Five Existential Questions?
The “big five” existential concerns include death, isolation, identity, freedom, and meaning. Therefore, the five existence questions are:
- What is the meaning of life?
- What is the purpose of life?
- Why am I here?
- Who am I?
- Where can I find happiness?
These deep questions are the best existential questions you can ask yourself and are a great conversation starter for an existentialist.
In any case, if you don’t know what to do with your life and struggle with these deep questions, look inward as the first place to start. Human creativity and an open mind in your own life will offer you the answers.
Until we answer these questions, look for thought-provoking conversations and live a good life while providing the possible answers for yourself. Try to find your soulmate, enhance your human experience, and have a spiritual awakening. It’s all part of life.
See also: 175 Questions With No Answers That Will Blow Your Mind
Can Existential Questions Be Answered?
No, there are no universal answers out there. These questions are deep and philosophical questions about the meaning of life.
Some people believe that we may never know the answer to these deep philosophical questions. In fact, I agree with them. However, there are some answers to these questions that help us understand our place in the world and what we ultimately want out of life.
Many people find themselves asking these existential questions. These are questions that are not answerable, or at least not answerable with the limited knowledge we have.
Some philosophers view them as the most important questions of our existence, and they spend their lives trying to answer them. In fact, there are so many different answers to these questions that there is no universally accepted right answer for any of them.
I believe that you make time for what you want in life and achieve your goals. Once you do this, everything else will follow, and the existential answers with it.
The book The Doubter’s Companion by John Ralston Saul argues that we have lost our sense of meaning in this world. We need a new humanism to get back what has been lost. This is based on a sense of belonging and community, not just individualism.
Find Your Answers
A deep conversation is a great way to get to know someone. Through them, both parties become engaged in a conversation while not just listening to what the other person has to say. Still, it can cause an existential crisis.
They are also actively participating in the conversation by asking questions, giving feedback, and sharing their thoughts. You will keep your mind active and get to know the other person better by asking deep, existential questions than asking boring interview questions.
In the end, I hope you find all the answers you were looking for and that you heal your existential depression with a few deep answers as well. So, don’t stop exploring because your answers could be just around the corner.
