INSPIRATION ECONOMY AS A PHILOSOPHICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK FOR SOCIOECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION

Author: Mohamed Buheji

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a comprehensive philosophical and methodological analysis of the Inspiration Economy (IE) as an emerging paradigm for addressing complex socioeconomic challenges. Drawing upon the three foundational philosophical dimensions—ontology, epistemology, and axiology—the study demonstrates how IE transcends traditional economic models by prioritizing human capacity, meaning-making, and intrinsic motivation over material accumulation and market competition. Through analysis of diverse Inspiration Labs conducted in more than 30 countries since 2015, the paper shows how IE operationalizes Edgar Morin’s philosophy of complexity through practical methodologies, including exploratory visits, multidisciplinary thinking, hermeneutic interpretation, and the concept of “influencing without power.” The paper argues that IE represents a significant epistemological shift from economies based on “supply vs. demand” to those grounded in “capacity vs. demand,” offering a viable pathway toward sustainable development, poverty elimination, and community resilience in an era of unprecedented global uncertainty.

Keywords: Inspiration Economy, Complexity Theory, Socioeconomic Development, Hermeneutics, Multidisciplinary Thinking, Poverty Elimination, Resilience Economy, Meaning-Making, Inspiration Labs

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