The power of a good question

Why are all the LIFI event titles questions?

It’s a logical, sensible, and good question and the perfect place to start this article.

The answer lies at the very heart of what Leeds International Festival of Ideas (LIFI) stands for: learning, growing, and connecting. Framing our events as questions isn’t just a stylistic choice, it’s a signal of intent. We want to spark curiosity, encourage open dialogue, and provoke thought around the issues that matter most in our lives.

By posing questions instead of making statements, we invite you into a space of curiosity, exploration, and shared understanding. It’s our way of making it clear that LIFI is a festival about conversation, connection, and curiosity.

And, to be totally honest? It’s also a deliberate provocation. We want everyone who attends LIFI to feel that they are entering a space that isn’t afraid to confront the tough stuff. A space that tackles real societal questions head-on, without fear or agenda, just a desire to understand and move forward.

As the Greek philosopher Socrates famously said, human understanding begins with three core questions: Who am I? Where am I from? Where am I going?

At LIFI, our aim is to offer a programme that helps illuminate those questions through new perspectives and lived experiences. We reckon Socrates would be into it.

Why Are Questions So Powerful?

The power of a good question lies in its ability to engage the mind, ignite curiosity, and deepen our understanding of the world. Think back, can you remember a time someone asked you a great question? One that made you feel seen, truly understood? That’s what questions do. They open doors, start conversations, and create space for empathy and insight.

At LIFI25, we hope to create moments like that. Moments where speakers ask the big questions with listeners walk away changed.

Questions Inspire Critical Thinking

One of LIFI’s core values is critical thinking. Good questions don’t just teach us new things, they challenge us to revisit what we already know. They ask us to look again, to dig deeper, to think a little differently.

By challenging assumptions and encouraging self-reflection, questions spark creativity and lead to new ideas, solutions, and innovations. That’s what we hope happens at every LIFI event.

We want people to leave the festival inspired, hopeful, and curious, ready to ask more questions in their communities, workplaces, and families. Questions that push society forward.

So, why questions? Because the power to question is the basis of all human progress, Mahatma Gandhi said that. And we believe it with all our hearts.