Why is it important to ask (the right) questions?

During the past few days a group of participants called the Fellowship of questions showed some very interesting approaches to the question of solidarity in European public sphere.. Members of the group, all respected in their fields, are Adrian Sinclair, Diana Filimon, Ines Marques, Vanja Ristić and Nina Martin, who are all working together on their notion of contribution to solidarity in European public sphere. The main question might be: what is even solidarity in Europe?

 

It all started with a question, and that became the main axis of further idea development. If looked more precisely, various forms of questions are asked daily, from simple ones like “What should  I eat for lunch?” to, in the spirit of CLE, “What is solidarity?”.

The group questioned one thing that’s very much true, and that is is it more interesting to hear one real question than pretend to know all the answers? We as humans, particularly adults, tend to insist more to giving answers than to asking questions. Real questions are the ones which challenge our truths, points of view, daily life and concepts of it. One right question, if there is no answer, can indeed disrupt even the greatest concepts of ‘true’. 

As seen from this small paragraph, simple question, when put the right way raises even more questions: who can answer our questions, in what way do we ask them, which language do we use, what does that mean, what is the right way? 

Questions are like an egg in a cake - sort of gathering material that joins all the other ingredients. Questions in their vision can truly connect people from all over Europe through their own uncertainties. If we think about it, Europe is so different in terms of cultures, people, perspectives, and they all have questions. Establishing some sort of platform where they can join and ask questions together, questions that spark conversations and critical thinking and at the end challenge our beliefs is the purpose the conceptual platform holds.

It all comes down to learning, to broadening views on things. Group pointed out that various forms of inquiry are great tools for learning. And expanding our knowledge consecutively leads to a greater sense of solidarity in Europe, which, after all, is the silver lining. We challenge you to ask questions, to learn, to broaden your views, to expand horizons, and to do so, Europe will become a true place of solidarity.