52 Existential Questions - Deep,

thought-provoking questions.

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via: Pexels / freestocks.org

The word existential came from the Latin word "existentia", which

means to exist. The very reason for existential questions is
to challenge our way of thinking and our perspective. That is
why, Existential questions are some of the most
interesting questions to ask.
Why? Well we've all been there.
Do you ever find yourself wanting more from a conversation? Maybe
you’ve gone through all of the “getting-to-know-you” questions to
ask, and are wanting to know how to spice up a conversation
with open-ended answers.
They’re more thoughtful than deep questions to ask and are
designed to make you ponder all the possible outcomes of a situation
and can have the power to make you completely rethink your
perspective on life.
We’ve compiled a list of 52 existential questions to ask that can help you
improve relationships, break out of your comfort zone, and discover a
little more about yourself and others.

Contents

Existential Topics

Conversation Starters

The Best

For a Girl/Girlfriend

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Existential Question Topics

via: Unsplash / Taylor Wilcox

Existential questions are questions with a wide range of deep
conversation topics.  While many everyday questions don’t require you
to dig deep for the answers, existential questions require you to put into
words what you feel on the most basic level.
DxTopics can take root in our core values, our feelings about life and
death, and why everything is the way it is.
Existential questions that challenge us to ask why help us better
understand the world around us and - when dealing with others -
people’s motives. If we don’t know why something is the way it is, how
will we ever understand it?
Life and death are perfect existential question topics because we’re all
dealing with some problems and we’re all going to die. Topics like these
help us see how others process such realities.
Everything is possible when asking an existential question and
sometimes there’s no real answer because each question just spawns
more questions.

9 Deep Existential Conversation Starters

via: Pexels / Stefan Stefancik

So you’ve braved our deep conversation starters, and need a little
more oomph in the conversation.
These deep existential conversation starters are the next logical
stepping stone.
They’re fun, not too challenging to think about and can help you and
your conversation partner feel a bit more at ease with each other.
Here are 9 great existential questions conversation starters:

1. Which Apocalyptic Dystopia Do You

Think Is Most Likely?

Mad Max? The Hunger Games? Black Mirror? There are plenty of
futuristic stories out there.

2. Do People Have A Right To Be Happy Or

Should They Have To Earn It?
Should we be happy without having to put in the work? What if our
happiness comes at the cost of others’ happiness? Can we be truly
happy knowing we’ve hurt someone?

3. What Would You Genetically Change

About Humans To Make Them A Better
Species?

Bigger feet and better hair? Or are designer babies a result of

humans playing God?

via: Pexels / Clem Onojeghuo

4. Are There Limits To Human Creativity?

Are some people more creative because of genetics? Will humanity

ever reach a barrier where creative thinking can’t form a solution?
5. What Do You Think That Two People
Must Have In Common To Connect With
Each Other?

Have you ever met someone and instantly hit it off with them? What
was present that made you connect so easily? And the opposite? What
was missing?

6. What’s The 1 Piece Of Advice You Would

Give Others About Life?

My advice: Follow the Golden Rule. Treat others the way you want to
be treated and we’ll all turn out okay. This interesting game on the
evolution of trust highlights why it works so well.

via: Pexels / Burst

7. How Do We Know If We’re Doing The

Right Thing?
How can we be sure that when we do something nice, we’re not
inadvertently harming someone else? Does the Butterfly Effect dictate
our lives despite our best efforts?

8. What’s The Universal Language?

What’s the best way for us to better understand one another?

9. What Comes To Mind When You Hear The

Word 'Life'?

What brings meaning to the word, for you? What makes you feel
alive?

via: Pexels / Nikolaj Erema

24 Best Existential Questions

via: Pexels / Andrea Piacquadio
The best existential questions that will require you to think a
little harder and dig a little deeper. They're questions that
Here are the 24 best existential questions:

10. Do You Think The End Or The Means Is

More Important?

Does it matter how you get somewhere as long as you’re there? Or is

the journey more important than the destination? What do you sacrifice
along the way?

11. Do You Believe In A Power Greater Than

Humanity?

Is there a God? Are we simply puppets with someone pulling the

strings? What if we’re the most advanced beings in the universe?
via: Unsplash / Ben White

12 .Do You Think That Human Ethics Are

Learned Or Natural?

The Nature vs. Nurture debate. Do we have an innate sense of right

and wrong or do we learn all of it from our parents, peers, and society?

13. How Do We Measure Life?

What is a life worth living? What about other living things? Are some
creatures more entitled to life than others?

14. What Do You Think Your Purpose Is?

Why do you get out of bed in the morning? Is your purpose written for
you or do you have the power to change it?
via: Pexels / Burst

15. Is There A God, And, If So, What Is

His/Her Nature?

If someone has created us, why? Does God want us to be happy?

Does he/she even care about us?

16. Why Do You Think We're Here?

Do we have a purpose or did we just get lucky?

17. What’s Our Biggest Mistake As

Humans?

Where do humans always mess things up? Can we prevent it?

via: Pexels / Pixabay

18. Is What We Perceive Reality Or Just A

Construct Of Our Minds?

Are we in a computer simulation? Is our reality even real? When you

think about something, does it become your reality?

19. What Is A Person? Is It The Mind, Or

The Body?

Our bodies are teeming with a bunch of tiny creatures that influence us
in various ways, but do they dictate our thoughts and actions? Are we
actually in control?

20. Does Truth Exist Without Evidence?

If a tree falls in the middle of the forest and nobody’s around to hear it,
does it make a sound?
via: Pexels / Matheus Bertelli

21. If You Could Watch Everything That

Happened In Your Life Until Now, Would
You Enjoy It?

We all make mistakes. Would you be able to look beyond those

mistakes and forgive yourself?

22. What Do We Most Need In This World?

What will make the world a better place?

23. What Is The Difference Between Living

And Existing?

Is it the feeling of grass between your toes? Enjoying the work you do
every day?

What makes you want to get out there and experience life?
via: Pexels / JÉSHOOTS

24. What Are We A Part Of?

From our local neighborhood to our local star cluster, what brings us all
together, and on what level?

25. Where Do You Think We Go When We

Die?

Heaven or Hell? Do we simply cease to exist? Are we balls of energy

that have unlimited capacity to move through time and space? For an
idea of what that last one would be like, give Space Engine a try if your
computer can handle it.

26. Where Do You Think We Come From?

Did the human race evolve? Did God create us in His image? Did
something else happen?

via: Pexels / Pixabay

27. How Do You Know You Are Not

Dreaming Right Now?

It’s time to wake up. We’ve been waiting for you, Kevin.

28. Are We Alone In The Universe?

This is a fun one. And if you know a little bit about The Fermi Paradox,
you can have an entire conversation trying to figure it out.
29. Why Do People Hurt Each Other?

There are plenty of reasons people cause harm to one another. Are
any of them warranted?

via: Pexels / Pixabay

30. Is One Lifetime Enough Time?

Some say this is all the time we get. Is it enough for you?

31. Do We Want Others To Be More Like Us

Or Do We Want To Be More Like Others?

This one changes depending on the situation. I don’t think anyone

wants to be more like Granny Beatrice, driving 5 under the speed limit
in the fast lane.
32. Is Suicide Justifiable?

Should we be allowed to decide when our lives will end? What about
the people we leave behind? Side note: If you or someone you know is
experiencing thoughts of suicide, call the Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-
8255. They have people willing to listen 24/7.

via: Pexels / Kat Jayne

33. Do You Think A Parallel Universe

Exists?

The idea of a parallel universe can be a tough pill to swallow, but the
gist is that for every possible outcome of every possible possibility
throughout every possible moment in time, there’s a universe that
exists. Woah...

9 Existential Questions To Ask A Girl/Your

Girlfriend

via: Unsplash / Andriyko Podilnyk

Sometimes you want to connect a bit more with the lady in your life. Or
maybe you’re trying to weed out a bad Tinder date.

There are plenty of deep questions to ask a girl or, for you

committed types, deep questions to ask your girlfriend but
sometimes they’re not enough.
The following questions to ask a girl or your girlfriend should be
considered with a bit more intimacy and as long as you’re listening,
you’ll learn a bit more about her than you expected.
Here are 9 existential questions to ask a girl/your girlfriend.

34. What Makes You Special?

Say this with a smile because she is special and while you have your
own reasons for why, she has her own opinions about herself and
they’re just as, if not more important.

via: Pexels / Japheth Mast

35. What Do You Think Is A Sign That It’s

Time To Let Go Of Something?

Asking a date is useful because it can give you an indication of how

she processes past relationships.

If you ask your girlfriend this, make sure she knows it should be
thought of as an existential question. Otherwise, it just sounds like
you’re breaking up with her.

36. Where Do You Find Meaning In Your

Life?

We all find meaning in different places. What she says can give you a
good window into her mind and what helps her grow as a person.
37. Is Humanity Headed In The Right Or
Wrong Direction?

This is a fun one regardless of who you’re asking. It’s interesting to

hear about a person’s faith in humanity. A negative outlook isn’t
always a bad thing because it can be argued that there is hope. Maybe
they just don’t see all the good in the world.

via: Pexels / Skitterphoto

38. By What Standards Do You Judge

Yourself?

This is important. How people judge themselves is how they judge

other people. What they think is acceptable may not be what you
think acceptable.
39. What Percentage Of Your Life Do You
Feel Truly Alive?

We can’t be happy all of the time, but experiencing and appreciating

the bad times along with the good is all a part of feeling truly alive.

40. How Do You Give Yourself Without

Losing Yourself?

Getting involved with someone romantically involves a whirlwind of

emotions and biological processes and it’s important for the two of
you to remain independent of each other while coexisting in a mutually
beneficial arrangement.

via: Pexels / Pixabay

41. Do Soulmates Exist?

Relationships require work no matter who you’re with. Is there really
that one person out there “who just gets you, ya know?”

42. What Is Commitment?

Make sure you’ve defined this one yourself and you share it with her as
early as possible in the relationship. When you both understand what
the other believes about commitment, you’ll be much more comfortable
with moving things forward (or with realizing she’s not the one for you!)

10 Existential, Thought Provoking

Questions To Ask

via: Unsplash / Joshua Rodriguez

Some conversations lead to thoughts you may not have had on your
own. Sharing meaningful experiences with your fellow humans is a
powerful way to improve and grow as a person. These thought
provoking questions are specifically for igniting those heavy
discussions that give you new ideas and perspectives.
These questions carry significant weight, so don't overdo them. These
are the types of questions to ask when you're gazing at the stars with
that special person in your life, or when you're in the mood to have
mind-blowing discussions with your friends.
These questions spark imagination, wonder, and excitement about the
human experience. They may even make you question everything you
thought you knew. If nothing else, you're going to have a conversation
that goes far beyond the average and into the unknown.
Here are the 10 best existential, thought provoking questions to ask:

43. If Life Is So Short, Why Do We Do So

Many Things We Don’t Like?

Is it out of necessity? Or because we don't want to acknowledge our

mortality?

via: Unsplash / Mur Fings

44. Is The Meaning Of Life The Same For

Animals And Humans?

And does life have a true meaning in the first place?

45. Is The World A Better Place With
Humans In It?

Are we a disease to the planet, or are we on the path to something

greater?

46. When Does Life Begin?

At what point is a human being truly alive?

47. What Will Happen To The Future Of The

Human Race Long After We Are Gone?

Are humans destined to end up like the dinosaurs? Will our skeletons
hang in the museums of the next species to evolve consciousness?
via: Unsplash / Sadman Sakib

48. Is It Possible For A Human To Fathom

The True Depths Of Reality And Existence?

Or are we like ants trying to understand math?

49. Does Fate Exist? If So, Do We Have Free

Will?

Is the book already written?

50. If 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?

And would destroying it be considered suicide?

51. What Does It Mean To Live A Good Life?

Personal happiness? Meaningful relationships? Leaving the world in

better shape than when you entered it?
52. Is It Possible To Live A Normal Life And
Not Ever Tell A Lie?

Are some white lies a necessary evil, and therefore not evil at all?

How To Ask Existential Questions

via: Pexels / Kaboompics.com
While they’re perfect for getting to know someone on the deepest level,
you’ll be surprised at how well they help you know yourself. Use
these tips below on how to ask these questions.
Here is how to ask existential questions:

1. Open Up Your Mind

via: Unsplash / Omar Ram
Allow yourself to ponder all of the possible answers to an existential
question and you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to feel comfortable
asking one.

2. Be Respectful

via: Pexels / Jopwell
Don’t be that guy who only asks existential questions at parties. Yes,
they make you sound more interesting, but these questions can be
overwhelming at times. Nobody wants an existential crisis thrown in
their face!

3. Have Fun And Relax!

via: Pexels / Kaboompics .com
These existential questions should enhance your conversations and
make your exchange infinitely more interesting. As long as you keep a
positive attitude and an open mind, you have the power to transform a
conversation from boring to memorable!

Downloadable And Printable List Of

Existential Questions

Here is a downloadable and printable jpg/pdf list of existential

questions (right-click the image and select Save Image As...):
via: Mantelligence

Looking For More Existential Questions?

 You’ve figured out the mysteries of the universe by now, right? Well,
maybe you’ve figured out how you feel about them. Perfect!

Here’s some further reading in the vein of existential questions:

1. Philosophical questions are another avenue that will keep you
thinking.
2. There are plenty of existential questions in our questions to ask a
guy/questions to ask a girl article.
3. Questions to ask to get to know someone is another great resource to
improve your thought-provoking conversations.
4. Our 85 Funny Get to Know You Questions have some creative
questions that guarantee a laugh.
5. Maybe you need to snap back to reality after this (if our reality is even
reality.) We’ve got you covered with our list of 50 Highly-Effective
Grounding Techniques.

In Conclusion

Use a few or use them all but these 52 existential questions to

ask people can truly enhance your conversations.
They’re thoughtful and interesting, but most importantly, they’re fun if
you approach them with an open and creative mind. Mixing them with
getting-to-know-you questions to ask and deep questions to ask will
keep any conversation moving smoothly.