Have you ever wondered why some people are able to create amazing inventions and innovations, while others can only repeat other people’s ideas? Have you ever wondered why some people are able to achieve excellence in a variety of fields, while others are limited to just one? Have you ever wondered why some people are able to solve complex problems while others just get stuck?
The answers to these questions may have to do with a special way of thinking called first-principles thinking. First principles thinking is a way of thinking that analyzes and solves problems starting from basic facts and principles, rather than from existing assumptions and common sense. It can help us break through traditional thinking patterns, discover new possibilities, and create new value.
What is first principles thinking?
The concept of first principles thinking can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. He believed that in order to understand something, we must find its first principle, that is, its most basic cause and essence. Aristotle used first principles thinking to explore the laws of nature, such as physics, biology, logic, etc.
A modern representative of first principles thinking is Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of Tesla Motors, SpaceX, and the PayPal payment platform. Musk has achieved amazing achievements in different fields. One of his secrets is to use first principles thinking to create and innovate. Musk explained first principles thinking in an interview:
‘I tend to approach things from a physics framework. Physics teaches you to reason from first principles, not through analogies. So I said, OK, let’s look at the first principles. What are rockets made of? Aerospace grade Aluminum alloy, plus some titanium, copper and carbon fiber. And then I asked, what is the value of these materials on the commodity market? It turns out that the material cost of the rocket is about 2% of the typical price. So I said, if we can make these materials. Put it together in an efficient way and we can make an affordable rocket.’
Musk uses first-principles thinking to analyze the cost of rockets, rather than accepting market pricing. He started with the materials the rocket was made of, calculated their true value, and then looked for more efficient ways to build them. In this way, he was able to reduce the cost of rockets and realize his dream of space exploration.
How to use first principles thinking?
So, how do we use first principles thinking? Here are some simple steps to get us started:
- **Define the problem or goal you want to solve. ** Identify the results you want to achieve, or the obstacles you want to overcome. For example, your goal is to create a new product, or your question is how to improve your learning efficiency.
- **Find out your underlying assumptions. ** List all your assumptions about this problem or goal, including what you think are common sense, experience, tradition, authority, etc. For example, your hypothesis is that this product must have certain features, or your hypothesis is how many hours a day you must study.
- **Challenge your basic assumptions. ** For each hypothesis, ask yourself, is it true? Is it supported by evidence? Does it have logical reasoning? Does it have other possibilities? If you can’t prove it’s true, or there’s a better alternative to it, then ditch it. For example, you may find that some functions of this product are not really needed by users, or you may find that your learning efficiency is related to your learning method and environment, not your learning time.
- **Build new solutions from first principles. ** Rationales are facts or principles that you believe to be true and undeniable and that serve as the basis for your thinking. Starting from first principles, you can use logical reasoning and creativity to build new solutions rather than relying on existing ones. For example, you can design a new product based on the needs and pain points of users, or you can develop a new learning plan based on the principles and laws of learning.
An example of first principles thinking
Let’s look at some specific examples of using first principles thinking to see how it helps people create and innovate.
Euclid
Euclid was an ancient Greek mathematician who is considered the founder of geometry. His book ‘Elements’ is one of the most important books in the history of mathematics. It systematically expounds the basic theorems and proofs of plane geometry and solid geometry. Euclid used first principles thinking to establish the system of geometry. Starting from some of the simplest axioms and definitions, he derived hundreds of theorems and propositions. His method became known as the Euclidean method, and it had a profound influence on subsequent mathematicians and scientists.
Liu Cixin
Liu Cixin is China’s most famous science fiction writer. His masterpiece ‘The Three-Body Problem’ series is hailed as a milestone in Chinese science fiction and has also won widespread international praise and awards. Liu Cixin uses first principles thinking to construct his science fiction world. He starts from physics, astronomy, biology and other scientific principles to imagine various possible scenarios and settings, such as the movement patterns of the three-body galaxy and the three-body civilization. History and culture, the laws of the dark forest, etc. His works demonstrate the infinite charm and imagination of science fiction.
Musk
We’ve already mentioned how Musk used first-principles thinking to reduce the cost of rockets, but that’s not his only example. Musk also used first-principles thinking to create Tesla cars, designing an efficient electric vehicle based on the cost and performance of batteries rather than imitating existing cars. Musk also used first-principles thinking to create Tesla cars, designing an efficient electric vehicle based on the cost and performance of batteries rather than imitating existing cars. Musk also used first-principles thinking to propose the concept of Hyperloop. Starting from the basic needs and limitations of transportation, he conceived a new type of transportation that can reach supersonic speeds using vacuum pipelines and magnetic levitation technology.
How to cultivate first principles thinking?
First principles thinking is not an innate ability, but a thinking skill that can be developed through practice and study. Here are some ways to help us develop first principles thinking:
- **Keep asking why. ** When we encounter a problem or goal, we tend to accept existing solutions or assumptions rather than delving deeper into their causes and roots. We can challenge our assumptions and find deeper principles and facts by constantly asking why. For example, we can ask, why do we do this? Why is this important? Why is this difficult? Why does this matter have such a solution? Why is this solution effective? Why does this solution have such limitations? etc.
- **Use giant thinking. ** Giant thinking is a thinking technique that draws on and learns from other people’s thinking styles and methods. We can understand and learn from people who have outstanding performance in various fields through reading, observation, imitation, dialogue, etc., and how they use first principles thinking to think and solve problems. For example, we can read Musk’s biography and observe how he analyzes and creates; we can imitate Euclid’s method and derive more complex theorems and propositions starting from the simplest axioms and definitions; we can have conversations Liu Cixin, learn how he imagined the science fiction world based on scientific principles.
- **Use ab initio thinking. ** Ab initio thinking is a thinking technique that starts from scratch and uses the most basic data and calculations to estimate and verify the feasibility and rationality of a problem or goal. We can avoid being influenced by external factors such as the market, media, and public opinion by using ab initio thinking, and instead use an objective and rational approach to evaluate and judge the true value and potential of an issue or goal. For example, we can calculate from scratch, what are the costs and benefits of a Tesla car? How much does it cost to build and operate a hyperloop? How much does it cost to write and publish a science fiction novel?
Summary of first principles thinking
First principles thinking is a way of thinking that analyzes and solves problems starting from basic facts and principles, rather than from existing assumptions and common sense. It can help us break through traditional thinking patterns, discover new possibilities, and create new value. We can cultivate and improve our first principles thinking by constantly asking why, using giant thinking, and using ab initio thinking. First principles thinking is a way of thinking that allows us to think like geniuses, which allows us to achieve outstanding performance and achievements in various fields. Let’s use first principles thinking to create and innovate!
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