Philosophy

At the Vienna Philosophy Circle freethinking individuals gather each week to discuss topics of interest. Each person may suggest a question but only those with the highest number of votes from all participants move to the ensuing discussion and into the Philosophy Database.

Compared to online discourse, the Philosophy Database is a more authentic and nuanced reflection on today’s burning issues. Without the help of algorithms or a community of fans, ones ideological predisposition has to cede in favour of a willingness to learn.

May the best ideas survive and the brightest visions thrive.

New topics are updated on a weekly basis. Further information on each discussion will be added in September 2025.

2024

1 What is the future of humanity?

2 What qualifies an expert in a non-scientific field?

3 What is the difference between religion and a cult?

4 Is there a collective subconsciousness which all humans share?

5 How do emotions affect our thinking?

6 Are we lacking traditional values?

7 Does intelligence determine wellbeing?

8 Is marriage out-dated?

9 How do you become an outsider?

10 Should people follow societal rules of dating?

11 How can you achieve happiness in modern times?

12 To what extend should AI be regulated?

13 What is gender?

14 How can we reliably determine if we are in reality?

15 Should we be guilty of the crimes of our ancestors?

16 Should genetic engineering on humans be legal?

17 Does the non-existence of god make life meaningless?

18 Why do conspiracy theorists disregard official science and mainstream media but believe unqualified voices on the Internet?

19 Should people have to pass a test before becoming parents?

20 Should we continue inventing introvert friendly technologies or does it affect society negatively?

21 Is consistency the main ingredient of success?

22 Are drugs a poison or a cure?

23 Should everyone have their own personalized religion?

24 Will the next generation become more infantile than the previous one?

25 What is the purpose of existence?

26 Does reincarnation or heaven make more sense?

27 Would a 20 hour work week make people more or less productive?

28 Is transhumanism a way of evolution?

29 Will humanity be better off with a smaller population?

30 Should you be primarily motivated or critical about the things you do to achieve success?

31 Does simplicity in life lead to happiness?

32 Is Darwinism a law of nature or can it be overcome?

33 Is the search for spiritual truth worth it?

34 At what point does a revolution go too far?

35 Is there an inherent moral compass or are all morals created by humans?

36 Is experiencing hardship a prerequisite to experiencing a full life?

37 Are humans inherently good, evil or neither?

38 Do laws increase our freedoms or limit them?

39 Which things should be left unknown if any question can be answered?

40 Are people no longer taking responsibility and accountability for their actions?

41 Is it possible or necessary to seperate the art from the artist?

42 Would humanity be better off without the Internet?

43 What is the fastest way to learn a new skill?

44 Is our life shaped by an unconscious belief?

45 How do we unlearn something?

46 Are universities or other types of education more useful?

47 At what point does a person become irredeemable?

48 Is it better to be truthful or tactful?

49 To what degree should people be intolerant?

50 Is it possible to have a successful relationship with a person who opposes your moral values?

51 Why are weirdos shunned from society?

52 What defines good or bad art?

53 Why do older generations dislike younger generations?

54 Is pessimism a self-fulfilling prophecy?

55 Are we responsible for our past?

56 Why do we break laws?

57 When should the will of the people be ignored?

58 Why are we morally questioning prostitution?

59 Is the truth worth knowing even if it leaves us in a worse state than prior?

60 Do we get deceived because we are naive or because we choose to?

61 Is there any truly selfless act?

62 How far should freedom of speech extend?

63 Are we past the need of nation-states? If so, what comes next?

64 What are the dangers of too strict and too loose parenting?

65 What are the most powerful philosophical life hacks?

66 What is the relation between solitude and technology and its impact on human relations?

67 Why do some of the most generous people have no money and some of the wisest no formal education?

68 Is there an end goal for the development of the human species? If so, is it ever possible to achieve that goal?

69 Where is the boundary which seperates realistic from unrealistic expectations on life?

70 Should we live for the present or for the future?

71 Is Stoicism good or bad for mental health?

72 Can anyone become an artist?

73 Would it be good or bad to introduce a cure for aging?

74 Should we follow the principle of “innocent until proven guilty” or “guilty until proven innocent”?

75 What have we lost in the pursuit of great efficancy and lower costs?

76 Why do people need stimulation?

77 What is human consciousness?

78 What factors determine the decision to accept the status quo versus implementing change?

79 Does the philosophy of doing work for the sake of working have a place in the 21st century?

80 Should we reach out into space or look into ourselves to gain wisdom?

81 Does our society promote narcism or is it simply more visible?

82 How can we optimize global happiness?

83 Is political correctness going too far?

84 Why are right wing ideas so popular nowadays?

85 Is it hard to be a nice person?

86 Does freedom of speech truly exist? If so, should it exist?

87 Do laws or morals constitute a crime?

88 Should all information be free?

89 When is morality destructive?

90 Does our current understanding of brain processes support or challenge the existence of free will?

91 How important is self motivation?

92 What is meant by the phrase “finding god”?

93 Does the feeling of injustice authorize illegal actions?

94 How should we evaluate the rapid advancements of AI?

95 Is freedom of choice through voting in a democracy an illusion?

96 Is work life balance a pretext for lazyness?

97 What is the healthiest form of love?

98 Is love something that requires an action or the seizing of an action?

99 Do animals have rights? If so, how should they be protected?

100 Can we trust our memory?

101 Can philosophy arrive at answers?

102 Should governments be allowed to keep secrets from the public?

103 How would immortality change our social structure?

104 How does thought influence subconsciousness?

105 Do we satisfy any natural desires with religion?

106 Why do we stay in situations that make us suffer?

107 Is success and failure in life predetermined by your genes and upbringing?

108 Is the cost of freedom inevitably loneliness?

109 Is democracy a good political system?

110 To what extend should childhood innocence be preserved?

111 Could we be a figment of someone’s imagination?

112 Do we have a right to lie?

113 Should we respect all cultures or is there a limit?

114 Is it moral to take advantage of people who have a weak character?

115 When does manipulation start?

116 Should we have only spirituality without institutionalized religion?

117 What are you able to control in your life?

118 Are there any fair wars?

119 How would a physical copy of yourself change your self-perception?

120 Is entitlement a driver of progress?

121 Has the ubiquitousness of content led to a decline in the quality of art?

122 If you buy a companies shares, are you responsible for its decisions?