PhilosophicalWould You Rather Questions
From ancient paradoxes to modern choices — philosophy as a game. Thought-provoking dilemmas inspired by centuries of debate.
Classic Philosophical Dilemmas
Centuries of thinkers have wrestled with these puzzles. Answer them below.
Trolley Problem
Philippa Foot, 1967
A runaway trolley is heading toward five people. You can pull a lever to divert it onto another track, but one person would die. Do you sacrifice one to save five?
Your choice:
- 1.Would you rather...Rate this question
Ship of Theseus
Antiquity
If every plank of a ship is replaced over time, is it still the same ship? What makes something the same thing through change?
Your choice:
- 2.Would you rather...Rate this question
Experience Machine
Robert Nozick, 1974
Would you plug into a machine that gives you any experience you want — perfect happiness, forever? You would not know it was simulated.
Your choice:
- 3.Would you rather...Rate this question
Buridan's Ass
14th century
A donkey stands between two identical hay stacks. With no reason to prefer one, it starves — unable to choose. Can reason alone motivate action?
Your choice:
- 4.Would you rather...Rate this question
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How to Use Philosophical Would You Rather
Where these questions shine
Book Clubs
Discuss dilemmas after reading. Compare character choices to your own — would you have done the same?
Students
Perfect warm-up for ethics, logic, or philosophy classes. Gets everyone thinking before the real debate.
Debaters
Practice building arguments under pressure. Defend your choice and challenge others — no wrong answers, only stronger reasoning.
Team Building
A safe way to learn what colleagues value. No politics, no work talk — just honest preferences that spark real conversation.
Frequently asked
- What are philosophical Would You Rather questions?
- Philosophical Would You Rather questions present you with two options that explore deep themes: identity, morality, free will, happiness, and meaning. They're inspired by classic thought experiments like the Trolley Problem and the Experience Machine, but phrased in a fun, accessible way.
- Are philosophical Would You Rather questions suitable for kids?
- Some are. Questions about memories, dreams, or simple tradeoffs can work for older kids. Topics like death, sacrifice, or abstract ethics are better for teens and adults. Our Kids category has age-appropriate content.
- Can I generate more philosophical questions with AI?
- Yes! Our AI generator includes a 'Deep' category. Pick it, hit generate, and get new thought-provoking dilemmas on demand. Try it at /generator.
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