First principle
A First principle is a basic proposition or assumption that cannot be deduced from any other proposition or assumption. In philosophy, first principles are from First Cause attitudes and taught by Aristotelians, and nuanced versions of first principles are referred to as postulates by Kantians. In mathematics, first principles are referred to as axioms or postulates. In physics and other sciences, theoretical work is said to be from first principles, or ab initio, if it starts directly at the level of established science and does not make assumptions such as empirical model and parameter fitting.
― wikipedia/en/First%20principle
Sometimes called “reasoning from first principles,” the idea is to break down complicated problems into basic elements and then reassemble them from the ground up. It’s one of the best ways to learn to think for yourself, unlock your creative potential, and move from linear to non-linear results.
First Principle:
- A fundamental, self-evident truth or assumption.
- It’s a basic building block upon which other knowledge or ideas are built.
- Examples include: Newton’s first law of motion, the laws of thermodynamics, or basic axioms in geometry.
- These principles cannot be derived from anything simpler.
First Principles Thinking:
- A method of problem-solving that involves:
- Identifying the fundamental, irreducible principles underlying a situation or problem.
- Questioning all assumptions about the problem, even those widely accepted.
- Rebuilding the understanding of the problem from these basic principles.
- This approach encourages innovation and can lead to new solutions by challenging conventional wisdom.
- Example: Instead of relying on existing battery technology (an analogy to past solutions), first principles thinking would break down the problem of energy storage into its fundamental elements (e.g., chemical reactions, material properties) to potentially discover new and more efficient solutions.
- Often contrasted with reasoning by analogy, which relies on comparing the problem to similar situations from the past.