Philosophical Questions Quiz

Take this quiz to see how you think about life!

What’s your perspective on life? Does it have meaning? What’s our purpose? Is it even possible to answer those questions? That’s what philosophy is all about!

Answer these deep and thoughtful questions, and we’ll tell you which life philosophy you have, based on your worldview.

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Questions Overview

1. What's the meaning of life?
  1. There isn't one, or it doesn't matter.
  2. To find as much pleasure as possible.
  3. The meaning of life is to find the meaning of life.
  4. To be a good person, whatever that means.
2. Choose something you hope to accomplish this year:
  1. I just want to survive for another year. Everything else comes after that.
  2. I want to learn as much as I can about existence in general.
  3. I want to treat myself better. Otherwise, what's the point?
  4. I want to meet tons of new people and encounter new perspectives.
3. Do you think everyone sees colors the same way?
  1. Totally. It's just science.
  2. Probably not. We're all different.
  3. It's impossible to know.
4. What's more important: Faith or Science?
  1. Faith. It's all we have.
  2. Science. It's how we know anything.
  3. Both are important.
  4. Neither are important.
5. If someone told you that you'd die tomorrow, would you change how you live?
  1. Yes! I'd try to have as many new experiences as I could to make the most of my time.
  2. Yes, I'd focus entirely on avoiding my fate: death.
  3. No. I'd accept that this is my time, and I'd make peace with that.
  4. No. There's no certainty in this life, so how could anyone be certain I'll die tomorrow? I don't believe it.
6. What's more important: freedom, or rules and order?
  1. Freedom. We weren't made to be limited or controlled.
  2. Rules and order. Law is what separates us from other living things.
7. If you could, would you become immortal and live forever?
  1. Yes. It'd give me more time to figure out this life and its mysteries.
  2. No. The fact that life is temporary is what makes it significant.
  3. It depends on so many things. How could I ever answer?
8. What makes humans special?
  1. We feel empathy, love, disgust, pride, and so many other unique emotions.
  2. Nothing. We only think we're special.
  3. We can reason and use logic.
  4. We can make our own choices, rather than rely on instinct.
9. What inspires you most?
  1. Nature. It rules everything.
  2. Other people. Humans are so fascinating.
  3. Myself. I contain so many mysteries.
  4. Art. The act of creation is one of life's biggest joys.
10. Are you still the same person you were when you went to bed last night?
  1. Yes, of course. Who else would I be?
  2. No, I'm totally different. That's how life works.
  3. It's complicated.
11. Would you let 1 stranger die to save 5 people you know?
  1. Yes. It's unfortunate, but it's the best I can do given the situation.
  2. No. Nobody's life is more important than another's.
  3. It depends on who the people are.
  4. I'd rather not think about it.
12. Is telling the truth always the right thing to do?
  1. Yes, even when it's hard. That's how we grow.
  2. Not always. Some truths are better left buried.
  3. It's impossible to know what "truth" is, so it's impossible to know when you're telling it.

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Philosophy Crash Course

French philosopher René Descartes famously said, “I think, therefore I am.” But what do we think? And what does it mean to “am?” Welcome to the world of philosophy, where life’s most fundamental questions are pondered, and only sometimes answered. Mostly, philosophers argue over whether the questions themselves are even valid or useful. We won’t pretend to give you all the answers (or even the questions), but we can introduce you to some of the major schools of philosophy:

Idealism is the belief that what you think is what’s real. Your own reality is what’s going on in your head, since it’s impossible to know for sure what’s going on outside it, and since your own perspective and opinions shape how you live your life more than anything else.

Nihilism is the belief that there is no meaning or answer to life, and so it’s useless and silly to go around trying to find one. In fact, as humans, it’s pretty much impossible to know anything for sure, so why try?

Stoicism is the idea that, in order to live a good life, you must master your mind and your emotions. The best lives are lives of virtue and self-control, and those who live according to nature are living the best lives.

Hedonism is the belief that pleasure controls everything. Pleasure is good and pain is bad, so you may as well do everything you can to have a good time and avoid having a bad time.

Relativism is the idea that “truth” is different for everyone. Your own lived experiences shape what you think, believe, and hold to be true, but everyone has different experiences, and so everyone has a different perception of what’s right and what’s real, and nobody is necessarily wrong.

Rationalism is the belief that the only thing we can trust for sure is our own logic and reasoning. Our senses and experiences often lie to us, or aren’t always what they seem, so we must rely on our intellect to puzzle things out and get to the bottom of things.

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