First Principles
Strip away assumptions. Reason from fundamentals.
What It Is
The ability to decompose problems to their most basic truths, then rebuild understanding from scratch. Not "how is it done?" but "what must be true?"
Why It Matters
Most thinking is analogy — copying what others did. First principles thinking creates what didn't exist. It's how breakthroughs happen.
| Reasoning by Analogy | Reasoning by First Principles |
|---|---|
| "This is how it's done" | "What's actually required?" |
| Incremental improvement | Step-change innovation |
| Constrained by precedent | Constrained only by physics |
| Fast but local | Slow but global |
Core Patterns
- Decompose — What are the irreducible parts?
- Question constraints — Is this actually a rule or just convention?
- Physics test — Does it violate laws of nature?
- Rebuild — Given only fundamentals, what's the best solution?
- Simplify — Remove until it breaks
How to Develop
- Ask "why?" five times — go to the root
- Identify hidden assumptions — list what you're taking for granted
- Study different industries — see the same problem solved differently
- Build from scratch once — understand what you've been outsourcing
- Embrace "I don't know" — not-knowing is the start
The Shadow
Reinventing wheels. Ignoring valid accumulated wisdom. Slow where speed matters.
Archetype Connection
Primary: Philosopher — seeks fundamental truths Secondary: Engineer — applies principles to build
Context
- Principles — The foundational truths you operate from
- Critical Thinking — Evaluating claims
- Systems Thinking — Seeing connections
- Inversion Thinking — Flip the problem