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Whether it’s Nietzsche-level doom or postmodern overthinking, philosophy memes are basically the internet’s way of doing some deep pondering… but in a much more fun way.
These are the jokes about the stuff that keeps us up at night — the meaning of life, free will, and whether we are indeed living in a Matrix.
Because life is sort of like the myth of Sisyphus, you know, the guy stuck rolling a rock up a hill forever just to watch it fall again. It can feel absurd, pointless even, but memes let us laugh at it instead of crying over it.
And because we all definitely need a little levity in these absurd times, we’ve rounded up some of the best philosophy memes from the Instagram page @philosophergames.
They will get you laughing, but maybe even leave you questioning reality.
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If we try to imagine how these old-school thinkers would react to today’s meme culture, especially when they are the stars themselves, it would go something like this.
Plato, who worried that laughter could get out of hand or be mean-spirited, would probably be cautious and give plenty of side-eyes when he came across a meme.
He had, in fact, said that in the ideal state, comedy should be tightly controlled.
Aristotle would be more chill, we think. He knew some jokes can be at someone’s expense, but he also valued clever humor. So, memes that make you think would probably appeal to him.
The Stoics, like Epictetus, might also roll their eyes at memes that go overboard or encourage distraction. But anything that teaches a lesson or makes people reflect would likely get a pass.
Studies show that early philosophers cared more about what’s important in life than what’s funny, so it’s no surprise that most of them wouldn’t exactly be fans of memes, especially when it comes at their expense.
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#3
UnclePanda 2 weeks ago
memes - some of the deepest questions answered with an odd photo and a short matching caption.
From Plato labeling laughter as a danger to us turning him into a meme, we’ve surely come a long way.
It wasn’t until the 18th century that philosophers began to shift the conversation, using the word "humor" in the modern sense.
Laughter was no longer just seen as mocking others or showing superiority. Instead, it was recognized as a playful surprise, when something happens that clashes with what we expect.
#5
Ace 2 weeks ago
The whole original myth was an allegory for real people already finding themselves in that sort of meaningless, rewardless daily grind from which they could never escape. At least the 9-5 gives you 16 hours a day of your own, which is more than the slaves of that time could ever dream of.
By the 20th century, philosopher Henri Bergson and others were already exploring laughter as a kind of social tool that keeps our minds flexible. They also realized that it helps people navigate contradictions.
Cut to today, and philosophers aren’t stressing over laughter anymore.
Now, humor is everywhere — in memes, text messages, social media posts, ads and even political speeches.
In fact, some of us can’t spend a single day without looking at a meme.
What was once barely mentioned in philosophical texts is now a whole cultural phenomenon studied in fields like memetics, where memes and jokes are treated as units of culture.
#8
We know that memes are funny and they make us laugh. But what is it about philosophy memes that so tickles our funny bones?
Research on meme culture shows that people are more likely to share and connect with memes that trigger strong emotional responses, whether that’s humor, anxiety, relief, or even existential dread.
Memes that can depict overthinking, or moments of confusion, tap into our shared experiences and make invisible feelings suddenly visible in a simple image-plus-caption format.
Philosophy memes basically take all the big, brain-melting ideas like determinism or existentialism and turn them into super simple, almost pantomime-style jokes that anyone can get.
They’re funny because they point out those annoyingly true parts of our lives we all feel, but can’t really talk about. For example, freaking out over leaving your bed for work in the morning, or even realizing maybe free will is a myth.
A lot of these memes also roast philosophy itself, poking fun at how uptight or pretentious academics can be.
On top of that, they’re loaded with wordplay and clever puns that make all that dense jargon easier to understand.
#11
#12
Bill Swallow 2 weeks ago
I was always rather disappointed that they didn't paint David Tennant purple, like in the comic books.
Recent research shows that content that takes a humorous, lighthearted approach to discussing mental health issues, even if they're done ironically, could actually help us more.
Memes also function as a kind of non‑verbal social language, activating empathy and emotional recognition in our brains. That’s why they feel relatable across different cultures and contexts.
“Young people, or more aptly almost the entire world, is connected through some form of technology and/or social media. When it comes to our mental health and wellbeing, the online world can be both daunting, but also empowering,” says Vikki Ryall, head of clinical practice at headspace, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation.
“There are also fun ways to explore the topic of mental health and approach it in a ‘non-clinical’ way — like finding a meme that captures your feelings and worries into a funny image you could easily share with your network.”
Memes that express existential anxieties or life’s big questions often mirror our inner thought patterns.
That’s why they have literally become tools of communication these days.
The Pew Research Center found that 75% of people aged 13 to 36 post memes, with 55% sharing them weekly and 30% daily, indicating a strong meme presence among young adults.
Another survey found that 74% of people share memes for humor, 53% use them as responses, 35% as cryptic messages, and 28% when words are insufficient.
#17
Riley Quinn 2 weeks ago
Growing up on a farm, when I see suburban reactions to farm animals, I always chuckle. It's an ef'n duck, not a rabid dog.
#18
Riley Quinn 2 weeks ago
Huh. I just dropped Kafka's name in a letter to a CEO describing the stupid decision they made that's ramped up customer frustration. Told him the employees aren't too pleased being on the front lines listening to all the complaints.
#19
UnclePanda 2 weeks ago
“For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much—the wheel, New York, wars and so on—whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man—for precisely the same reasons.” ― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
In a way, philosophy memes have become a philosophy of their own. They are ideas condensed into images and jokes that anyone can engage with instantly.
Even more fascinating is the fact that memes often evolve faster than traditional philosophy ever could.
A joke about free will today might ignite debates across social media by tomorrow.
In this sense, memes are not just reflecting philosophical thought; they’re actively shaping it and at the same time, creating a living, crowd-sourced dialogue.
#28
David Paterson 2 weeks ago (edited)
"Do unto others what you would have them do unto you" means that people who want to die are morally obliged to unalive everyone they meet. "Greatest happiness of the greatest number". Good, just step into this cage of hungry mosquitoes.
#32
UnclePanda 2 weeks ago
I eventually settled in absurdism, a relatively unknown branch of existentialism, and as far as I can tell one of the few ways to escape existentialism without drinking yourself to death.
#34
Bill Swallow 2 weeks ago
"Philosophy is a pretty good dodge. You can get paid for spewing bullsh!t but don't get the stink of politics all over you. Best of all, no one can prove you wrong."
#37
Riley Quinn 2 weeks ago
Oh, ha ha. Make a pun about how we lie in bed thinking about that time in third grade when...
#40
Forrest Hobbs 3 weeks ago
Surely no-one ever studied philosophy with the idea that it'd get them a job? I mean, really? Not that the study is a waste of time, far from it - but it's not the most practical of disciplines.
#42
Phantom Phoenix 2 weeks ago
As in... This Invisible basketball, itself, is spinning itself, on my finger, itself.
#45
Bill Swallow 2 weeks ago
"Heidegger, Heidegger was a boozy beggar who could think you under the table!"
#46
#52
Christopher “Jester” Šašek 2 weeks ago
One bite?! Really, one bite? That's a James Bond villain level bite.
#53
Riley Quinn 2 weeks ago (edited)
Knowing a word's etymology can really scr3w you up. Example: nice used to mean stupid. And it happens more frequently than you realize.
#54
#55
Kathy Sinclair 2 weeks ago
If he'd been in one of my uni classes at U of Toronto in the 70s, I'd definitely want to meet him again now.
#60
David Paterson 2 weeks ago
Just saying. I know a local philosopher who knows more about mathematics and analysis than mathematicians. For instance, did you know that there are about 14 different systems of infinite numbers?
#61
Riley Quinn 2 weeks ago
Wait. Are y'all saying we could fly but we're not collectively selecting it? Maybe that's a good thing. My mind just wandered to drunks flying around vomiting on the humans strolling along the ground.
#66
David Paterson 2 weeks ago
Rationality is the process whereby axioms that are created by magic are used to prove theorems that are false. PS. "Proof by contradiction" is invalid whenever causality is violated. Whenever causality is violated, as for instance in Godel's proof, then four value logic is required and "not false" is no longer a synonym for "true".
#75
#78
#79
“Socrates was ugly.”
— Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols, “The Problem of Socrates,” §3
(Nietzsche was using Socrates’ appearance as a symbol of philosophical illness, rationalism taking over healthy life).
#81
#86
David Paterson 2 weeks ago (edited)
I Kant understand Kant. If you Kant dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull.
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What do you think ?
Lazy Panda 2 2 weeks ago
I think there's a lot I don't know about philosophy, so I'm going to really have to think about these memes.
Lazy Panda 2 2 weeks ago
I think there's a lot I don't know about philosophy, so I'm going to really have to think about these memes.
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