What is meant by “First Principle”
The term “First Principle” refers to the most basic, foundational truth or assumption that cannot be deduced from any other proposition or assumption. In philosophy, science, and various fields of problem-solving, thinking in terms of first principles involves breaking down complex problems into their most fundamental elements and reasoning up from there.
How “First Principle” Thinking Works:
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Identify the Fundamental Truths: Instead of relying on assumptions, established practices, or what others believe, you start by identifying the core, indisputable facts.
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Break Down the Problem: Deconstruct a problem into its simplest components, stripping away any preconceived notions or conventions.
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Rebuild Solutions from the Ground Up: Use these basic truths to build a new understanding or solution that may be innovative or different from conventional approaches.
Example:
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In Science: Isaac Newton’s laws of motion are considered first principles in classical mechanics because they form the foundational basis for understanding physical movement.
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In Business and Innovation: Elon Musk often speaks of using first principles to approach problems in a novel way. For example, when he considered the cost of building rockets, instead of assuming it had to be expensive because that’s how it always was, he broke down the raw materials cost and found a way to build rockets much cheaper.
Why It’s Important:
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Clarity and Understanding: Thinking in first principles helps eliminate assumptions and biases, leading to a clearer understanding of problems.
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Innovation: It allows for creative solutions by focusing on what is fundamentally true, rather than what is commonly believed or practiced.
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Problem-Solving: By reducing a problem to its basic elements, you can often see simpler, more effective solutions that others might overlook.
In summary, “First Principle” thinking is a method of solving problems by identifying the most basic and undeniable truths and building up from there, often leading to breakthroughs and innovative solutions.