History Webcomic / ExistentialComics

** Daniel Dennett is the only New Atheist from ''Sam Harris: Powerful Philosopher'' who occasionally turns up in other comics and is presented as an actual philosopher, whose philosophical opinions are given any amount of respect- as opposed to Dawkins, Hitchens, and especially Harris, who are all mocked as incompetents. Indeed, the text accompanying the ''Film/BackToTheFuture'' parody aligns pretty closely with Dennett's view of compatibilism.

* OnlySaneMan: In [[http://existentialcomics.com/comic/23 this comic]], Immanuel Kant plays the role to the other philosophers, who can't help but try to exert their own views of philosophy onto the game, while Kant clearly just wants to kill some Orcs.

** [[https://existentialcomics.com/comic/353 Here]] it's {{discussed}} by an elf with a mayfly who laments having a very short life, while elves live forever. The elf replies that the mayfly shouldn't be sad in the end, because immortality runs thin. Over time, you do everything and see no point in doing things. His people are burdened with massive boredom, always fearing they will run out of something to do. The mayfly therefore dies comforted by the idea that a short life is better. However, then it's {{subverted}} as we learn this was just a lie--in fact, the elf is still working on new projects, with no sign he actually ran out of things to do with his immortal life. (Although you might interpret this as the Elflord going back to work after the Mayfly shows him not to take life for granted)

** [[https://existentialcomics.com/comic/353 Here]] it's {{discussed}} by an elf with a mayfly who laments having a very short life, while elves live forever. The elf replies that the mayfly shouldn't be sad in the end, because immortality runs thin. Over time, you do everything and see no point in doing things. His people are burdened with massive boredom, always fearing they will run out of something to do. The mayfly therefore dies comforted by the idea that a short life is better. However, then it's {{subverted}} as we learn this was just a lie--in fact, the elf is still working on new projects, with no sign he actually ran out of things to do with his immortal life.

* FunnyBackgroundEvent: [[http://existentialcomics.com/comic/162 While Kant is trying to chat up Elizabeth of Bohemia]], we see in order 1) [[RomanticWingman Camus and Hume]] giving him the thumbs-up behind her back when he's pretending to be really interested in what she's saying, 2) Mary Wollstonecraft [[FoodSlap throwing a drink in Hume's face]], and finally, 3) [[NotSoDifferent Wollstonecraft and Simone de Beauvoir]] giving Elizabeth the thumbs-up behind Kant's back when ''she's'' pretending to be really interested in what ''he's'' saying.

* FlatCharacter: Whenever Thales of Miletus shows up, the only thing he has to contribute is shouting out "Everything is Water!", and generally being obsessed with water. Justified, since that's most of what we know about his philosophy today.

* WhoWantsToLiveForever: [[https://existentialcomics.com/comic/353 Here]] it's {{discussed}} by an elf with a mayfly who laments having a very short life, while elves live forever. The elf replies that the mayfly shouldn't be sad in the end, because immortality runs thin. Over time, you do everything and see no point in doing things. His people are burdened with massive boredom, always fearing they will run out of something to do. The mayfly therefore dies comforted by the idea that a short life is better. However, then it's {{subverted}} as we learn this was just a lie--in fact, the elf is still working on new projects, with no sign he actually ran out of things to do with his immortal life.

* WhoWantsToLiveForever: [[https://existentialcomics.com/comic/353 Here]] it's {{discussed}} by an elf with a mayfly who laments having a very short life, while elves live forever. The elf replies that the mayfly shouldn't be sad in the end, because immortality runs thin. Over time, you do everything and see no point in doing things. His people are burdened with massive boredom, always fearing they will run out of something to do. The mayfly therefore dies comforted by the idea that a short life is better. However, then it's {{subverted}} as we learn this was just a lie-in fact, the elf is still working on new projects, with no sign he actually ran out of things to do with his immortal life.

* TheWarOnStraw: While many comics make fun of all philosophers pretty much equally, when Corey feels strongly about a topic he makes it clear that only an idiot or a reprobate could possibly disagree with him. Capitalism versus communism is a frequent example (he seems to support anarcho-communist ideas that have rarely been tested), as well as the value of philosophy (anyone who is unimpressed with it as a field is an entitled moron who just want rich white guys to be in charge of everything forever - and never mind that Corey has some pretty snarky things to say about various philosophers and about philosophy in general himself, that being a large part of what the comic is usually about).

* TheWarOnStraw: While many comics make fun of all philosophers pretty much equally, when Corey feels strongly about a topic he makes it clear that only an idiot or a reprobate could possibly disagree with him. Capitalism versus communism is a frequent example (apparently all the problems with communism could be solved by just not putting Stalin in charge next time), as well as the value of philosophy (anyone who is unimpressed with it as a field is an entitled moron who just want rich white guys to be in charge of everything forever - and never mind that Corey has some pretty snarky things to say about various philosophers and about philosophy in general himself, that being a large part of what the comic is usually about).

* TheSlacker: Zeno of Elea mainly uses his famous paradoxes and the belief that motion is an illusion as an excuse to slack off.

* TotalitarianUtilitarian: PlayedForLaughs in the "[[http://existentialcomics.com/comic/325 Utilitarian Dictator]]" which depicts Jeremy Bentham (founder of Utilitarianism) as in charge of society discussing how to create the greatest happiness with John Stuart Mill. They decide to simply ban things that make people unhappy, leading to a comically LongList with very little left. At the end though it's {{subverted}} as they decide banning this all would be too difficult, so they go with Mill's idea of maximizing personal liberty instead. [[TakeThat Except for the Browns, which they still ban.]]

* TheHedonist: Subverted. Two college students enroll in Epicurus' class, expecting it to be a non-stop party, only to find that Epicurean hedonism is actually about finding joy in simple pleasures and abstaining from bodily desires. They end up enjoying themselves anyway.

** Captain Metaphysics' whole shtick is that he can solve complicated metaphysical problems by punching their askers really hard. It's surprisingly effective.
** Simone Weil's best way to win an argument: pull a gun on the other side. Then steal their wallets and make them say it's philosophy.

* WhyDoYouKeepChangingJobs: Karl Marx, who has amongst others been used as a Jeopardy contestant, a Walmart greeter, a corporate motivational speaker, a post-apocalyptic road warrior, and a financial advisor. To a certain extent this is Administrivia/TruthInTelevision, as Karl Marx did drift around from job to job quite a bit, but it's mostly governed by [[RuleOfFunny whatever makes the joke of the comic work.]]

* WhyDoYouKeepChangingJobs: Karl Marx, who has amongst others been used as a Jeopardy contestant, a Walmart greeter, a corporate motivational speaker, a post-apocalyptic road warrior, and a financial advisor.

* TotalitarianUtilitarian: PlayedForLaughs in the "[[http://existentialcomics.com/comic/325 Utilitarian Dictator]]" which depicts Jeremy Bentham (founder of Utilitarianism) as in charge of society discussing how to create the greatest happiness with John Stuart Mill. They decide to simply ban things which people unhappy, leading to a comically LongList with very little left. At the end though it's {{subverted}} as they decide banning this all would be too difficult, so they go with Mill's idea of maximizing personal liberty instead. [[TakeThat Except for the Browns, which they still ban.]]

* TotalitarianUtilitarian: PlayedForLaughs in the "[[http://existentialcomics.com/comic/325 Utilitarian Dictator]]" which depicts Jeremy Bentham (founder of Utilitarianism) as in charge of society discussing how to create the greatest happiness with John Stuart Mill. They decide to simply bann things which people unhappy, leading to a comically LongList with very little left. At the end though it's {{subverted}} as they decide banning this all would be too difficult, so they go with Mill's idea of maximizing personal liberty instead.

* ChickMagnet: Creator/AlbertCamus is portrayed as not having to life a finger for attracting women. They simply come to him regardless, which annoys the heck out of Creator/JeanPaulSartre.

* TheThemeParkVersion: Half the premise of the comic is to present real philosophers and their thought, but to exaggerate and oversimplify them for comedy. An explanation is usually provided at the comic's end (unless the gag has been done multiple times before.)

** Gottfried Leibniz's obsession with monads – and wigs.

** Gottfried Leibniz's obsession with monads - and wigs.

** Gottfried Leibniz's obsession with monads.

''[[http://existentialcomics.com/ Existential Comics]]'' is a series of web comics which humorously discusses many philosophical topics and portrays numerous famous philosophers in a comedic manner.

** Simone Weil's best way to win an argument: Pull a gun on the other side. Then steal their wallets and make them say it's philosophy.