100 Ideas for Research Projects in Philosophy

Updated: 18.11.2024

Read time: 6 min read

Are you a deep thinker interested in time, existence, knowledge, and the world around us? By undertaking an EPQ or alternative research project in philosophy, you can explore life’s most interesting questions to develop skills like critical thinking and prepare yourself for higher education. However, selecting a topic that dovetails with your interests and curiosities is vital to ensure your research journey is intellectually stimulating and rewarding. To start you off on the right foot, we have proposed 100 ideas for research projects in philosophy.

What Makes a Great Research Topic in Philosophy?

The great thing about philosophical enquiries is that you can be unique and creative with your approach and reasoning. A great research topic has several key elements, so consider these before starting.

Interest: There are numerous branches of philosophy: ethics, logic, epistemology, aesthetics, politics, existentialism etc. Selecting a topic in a niche that interests you is key.
Focus: Avoid overly broad topics in favour of a well-defined question that allows you to explore answers with depth and clarity.
Relevant: Tackling a subject linked to current ethical, existential, or societal dilemmas will make your research more timely and impactful. Try to engage with both classic and modern ideas and bring them together.
Feasible: Make sure you have the resources to conduct your philosophical research effectively.

100 Research Ideas for Philosophy

Research Project Ideas about Ethics and Morality

#1: Are humans inherently good or evil?
#2: The ethics of artificial intelligence and autonomy
#3: Free will versus determinism: Can we choose?
#4: The ethics of lying: Is it ever morally right?
#5: Can morality exist without religion?
#6: What makes an action ‘right’ or ‘wrong’?
#7: The ethics of surveillance and privacy
#8: Is it important that we all obey rules?
#9: The ethics of war and peace
#10: The paradox of hedonism in ethical thought
#11: The problem of evil in the philosophy of religion
#12: Are we losing empathy in modern society?
#13: How do modern consumer habits reflect values?
#14: What ethical obligations do governments have to refugees?
#15: Is the pursuit of immortality morally justified?
#16: Is there morality in virtual reality?
#17: The role of punishment in ethical theories
#18: What are the ethical implications of power dynamics?
#19: Can technology be a solution to ethical dilemmas?

Research Projects about Knowledge and Understanding

#20: How is moral truth determined?
#21: The role of knowledge in scientific enquiry
#22: What happens after death? Philosophical perspectives
#23: Investigating the limits of human understanding
#24: Exploring the concept of paradoxes in logic
#25: Examining personal identity across time
#26: How logical fallacies weaken arguments
#27: Investigating modal logic and its applications
#28: What are the limitations of deductive reasoning?
#29: Does philosophy provide all the answers to human suffering?
#30: How do emotions influence moral decision-making?
#31: Can knowledge be acquired without experience?
#32: Intelligence versus wisdom: Which is more valuable?
#33: What is the philosophy of religion: Faith versus evidence?

Research Project Ideas about Mind, Body, and Identity

#34: How does marriage impact personal identity?
#35: Why do people choose to have children?
#36: How does ageing affect our identity?
#37: How does sleep shape our perception of reality?
#38: How does social media shape self-identity?
#39: The relationship between nature and human identity
#40: Are the mind and body separate?
#41: Analysing John Locke’s theory of personal identity
#42: How does human experience shape reality?
#43: How do virtues develop in humans?
#44: What is the relationship between nature and human identity?
#45: Does human existence have inherent meaning?
#46: What defines beauty in art and nature?

Research Projects about Art, Aesthetics, and Beauty

#47: Are aesthetics objective or subjective?
#48: What is the meaning of musical expression?
#49: Is music a universal language?
#50: What does it mean to really “see” something?
#51: The aesthetic theories of Kant versus Hume

#52: The role of power in political theories
#53: Exploring feminist perspectives on political power structures
#54: The concept of freedom in liberal thought
#55: Analysing the philosophy of anarchism
#56: Comparing individualism and collectivism in modern society
#57: Exploring the impact of utilitarianism on public policy
#58: Examining Machiavelli’s views on morality
#59: Is climate change a collective responsibility?
#60: What are the ethical implications of power dynamics?
#61: The role of power in social philosophy
#62: Is democracy the best form of government?
#63: Is climate change a collective responsibility?

Research Project Ideas about Famous Philosophers and Theories

#64: The concept of virtue in Confucian philosophy
#65: Analysing Nietzsche’s critique of Christianity
#66: Discussing Jean-Paul Sartre’s view on existentialism
#67: Examining John McTaggart’s Unreality of Time
#68: Exploring Hume’s views on human understanding
#69: Exploring Spinoza’s concept of God and nature
#70: Exploring Thomas Aquinas’ views on natural law
#71: Exploring Nietzsche’s concept of the “Übermensch”
#72: Exploring Plato’s theory of forms
#73: Exploring Socrates’ method of questioning
#74: The role of justice in Plato’s Republic

Research Projects about Metaphysics and Reality

#75: What’s the meaning of birth and life creation?
#76: Time travel: metaphysical questions and theories
#77: Does a parallel universe exist?
#78: The philosophy of space and time
#79: The concept of infinity in philosophical thought

Research Projects about Culture and Society

#80: How does gender influence philosophical theories?
#81: Exploring the link between logic and linguistics
#82: Investigating ancient versus modern philosophical thought
#83: Do animals have rights?
#84: Is fear central to human existence?
#85: Stoicism: Key principles for daily life
#86: What is utopia?
#87: How would life have evolved without the internet?
#88: What role does art play in social movements today?
#89: What role does humour play in coping with adversity?
#90: How culture influences moral philosophy
#91: Do cultural expectations shape love?
#92: Can friendships exist without shared values?
#93: How did Marx view society and economy?
#94: The idea of a perfect society in philosophy
#95: Exploring the concept of a ‘good life’

Research Projects about Logic, Reason, and Inquiry

#96: The role of logic in philosophical enquiry
#97: The role of reason in Kant’s ethics
#98: The role of logic in problem-solving
#99: How logical fallacies weaken arguments
#100: The role of scepticism in philosophical inquiry

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Create University-Level Essays in Philosophy

The 100 ideas for research projects in philosophy above should spark your interest and imagination. By digging deeper into some of these topics, you can find an EPQ research project that’s right for you.
Interested in a career in philosophy? Immerse Education supports pre-university students with tailored programs designed to help them create degree-worthy essays. Visit the Immerse Education Philosophy Online Research Programme Page to find out more – we have expert academics ready to help!

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