First Principles
Strip away assumptions. Reason from fundamentals.
The first principle of first principles: How do you name and categorize things by their purpose? This is nomenclature (naming) and taxonomy (classification). Without naming standards, you can't decompose to fundamentals — you don't know what you're looking at.
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
Method
"The first basis from which a thing is known." — Aristotle, Metaphysics
The cognitive process for reasoning from fundamentals:
| Step | Action | Question |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identify assumptions | What do I believe is true? List every constraint. |
| 2 | Decompose to fundamentals | What are the irreducible components? |
| 3 | Rebuild from scratch | Given only these truths, what's optimal? |
Techniques:
- Five Whys — Ask "why?" until you hit bedrock truth
- Socratic questioning — Disciplined dialogue that exposes assumptions
- Physics test — Does it violate natural laws? If not, it's possible.
Example: SpaceX rockets. Industry price: $65M. Musk asked: "What are rockets made of?" Aluminum, titanium, copper, carbon fiber. Raw materials = 2% of price. Built in-house. Cut costs 90%.
Systems Engineering
Musk's 5-step algorithm for manufacturing optimization. Steps must be done IN ORDER.
| Step | Action | Principle |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Question requirements | Your requirements are definitely dumb |
| 2 | Delete parts/processes | If you don't add 10% back, you didn't delete enough |
| 3 | Simplify & optimize | Don't optimize what shouldn't exist |
| 4 | Accelerate cycle time | Don't dig your grave faster |
| 5 | Automate | Only automate what survived steps 1-4 |
Most engineers start at step 5. That's the mistake.
Archetypes
Primary: Philosopher — seeks fundamental truths Secondary: Engineer — applies principles to build
Context
- Naming Standards — The first principle of first principles
- Standards — Why naming matters (the primitive)
- Agent & Instrument Diagrams — Nomenclature for AI + Crypto
- Principles — The foundational truths you operate from
- Critical Thinking — Evaluating claims
- Systems Thinking — Seeing connections
- Inversion Thinking — Flip the problem