> [!cite]- Metadata > 2025-05-09 21:39 > Status: #schema > Tags: [[Thinking]] [[Brainstorming]] [[Technique]] [[Knowledge]] [[5 - Atlas/Tags/Wisdom]] [[Mental Model]] `Read Time: 2m 56s` ### **Depth through reduction, reconstruction** >High Level Overview First Principles Thinking is a problem-solving and reasoning approach that involves breaking down complex problems or ideas into their most fundamental, self-evident truths called "First Principles" and then building solutions from the ground up, free from assumptions, analogies, or conventions. Aristotle: The Origin of First Principles Definition Aristotle was the first to formalize the concept, defining a first principle as "the first basis from which a thing is known" - a foundational proposition that cannot be deduced from any other. Philosophical Role: In his philosophy, first principles serve as the bedrock for all reasoning and knowledge. They are the axioms or root truths from which everything else is derived. Method Aristotle's method involves identifying these core truths and reasoning upward, ensuring all conclusions are logically anchored in what is fundamentally true. Richard Feynman: The Scientific Application Scientific Thinking Feynman, a renowned physicist, championed the practice of questioning everything and not relying on established conventions - a mindset central to first principles thinking. Feynman Technique He advocated for understanding concepts at their most basic level, often explaining complex ideas in simple terms and reconstructing knowledge from the ground up, mirroring the first principles approach. Innovation By consistently challenging assumptions and seeking foundational truths, Feynman was able to pioneer new solutions and explanations in physics. Elon Musk: Modern Business & Engineering Business Innovation Musk explicitly credits first principles thinking as the foundation for his breakthroughs at SpaceX and Tesla Method in Practice Instead of accepting industry norms (e.g., the high cost of rockets or batteries), Musk deconstructed problems to their basic physical and material components, calculated true costs, and rebuilt solutions from scratch. For Example For battery production, Musk asked: "What are the batteries made of? What are the raw material costs?" He found that by rethinking manufacturing and design from these fundamentals, he could drastically reduce costs and innovate beyond competitors. ### Comparison Table |Thinker|Approach to First Principles Thinking|Key Contribution| |---|---|---| |Aristotle|Identified and formalized first principles as the root of all reasoning and knowledge|Provided philosophical foundation| |Richard Feynman|Applied first principles to scientific inquiry and learning|Fostered deep understanding and innovation in science| |Elon Musk|Used first principles to disrupt industries by rebuilding solutions from the ground up|Enabled radical cost reduction and product innovation| Key Insights - First Principles thinking is about stripping away assumptions, questioning everything, and reasoning from the most basic truths. - Aristotle established the philosophical framework; Feynman embodied it in scientific practice; Musk applies it to business and engineering for breakthrough innovation. - The approach enables original solutions and avoids the limitations of reasoning by analogy or convention, making it a powerful tool for creativity and progress. Depth Gauging Questions - What assumptions am I making - and which of them are not necessarily true? - What is the simplest, most fundamental truth underlying this idea? - Can I rederive this concept from scratch without using jargon or metaphors? - If this system didn't exist, how would I rebuild it from first principles? - What happens if I break this idea apart to its smallest components - do they still make sense? Signal of Depth You've rebuilt the concept on your own terms and can reconstruct it in any context - without relying on inherited language or analogies. In Summary: First Principles Thinking is a timeless framework for innovation and problem-solving. It empowers individuals to challenge the status quo, uncover foundational truths, and build transformative solutions from the ground up. --- ### **References** [First Principles: The Building Blocks of True Knowledge](https://fs.blog/first-principles/) [First Principles: Elon Musk on the Power of Thinking for Yourself](https://jamesclear.com/first-principles) [What Is First Principles Thinking? 3 Popular Approaches and How to Apply Them](https://www.readynorth.com/blog/what-is-first-principles-thinking) [ELI5 what is 'first principles' thinking? : r/explainlikeimfive](https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/16aunru/eli5_what_is_first_principles_thinking/) [First Principles Thinking](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/first-principles-thinking-sahil-bloom) [First Principles Thinking: The Blueprint For Solving Business Problems](https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescommunicationscouncil/2023/09/13/first-principles-thinking-the-blueprint-for-solving-business-problems/) [A Framework for First Principles Thinking | Neil Kakkar](https://neilkakkar.com/A-framework-for-First-Principles-Thinking.html) [Elon Musk's First Principles](https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/25/elon-musk-trump-doge-physics-principles/) [The First Principles Method Explained by Elon Musk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV3sBlRgzTI&ab_channel=Innomind) [First principle - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_principle) [[Practicing Powerful Thinking]] [[Mastery Thinking]] [[Framework for Developing Powerful Thinking]] [[Concept of Operations]] [[Advanced Cognitive Techniques and Mental Models]] [[Artisan Thinking]] [[First Principles Thinking]] [[Minimal Viable Systems Thinking]]