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How to think and solve complex problems?
-A Thread on First Principles Thinking-
-A Thread on First Principles Thinking-
A first principle is a proposition or an assumption that cannot be deduced from any other proposition or assumption.
It is original.
It is the root.
It is original.
It is the root.
Now, first principles thinking is a definite approach to solve complex problems and drive innovation through reverse engineering. https://twitter.com/brainvalleysays/status/1345959391376384001?s=19
First principles thinking is not natural
Remember, how a child asks questions of the most basic things that we as grownups shun off.
"Why does an airplane fly?"
"What takes us up in an elevator?
What is it made of?"
"What is in that car that makes it move?"
Remember, how a child asks questions of the most basic things that we as grownups shun off.
"Why does an airplane fly?"
"What takes us up in an elevator?
What is it made of?"
"What is in that car that makes it move?"
"Why don't we use iron instead of steel for its body? It is a lot cheaper, right?"
Why does this happen?
Why do we grow up and think that we know an answer to a question someone hasn't even asked?
Why does this happen?
Why do we grow up and think that we know an answer to a question someone hasn't even asked?
On a normal day, our brain runs on auto-pilot and guides us on our next moves according to the things we know.
But, first principles thinking is about ignoring the things you know and digging deeper and deeper until you're left with only foundational truths of something.
But, first principles thinking is about ignoring the things you know and digging deeper and deeper until you're left with only foundational truths of something.
In theory, it sounds daunting. Going to the most basic levels of something.
In practice, you don't have to simplify every problem to the atomic level to benefit from this method.
You only have to go one or two levels deeper than most people do.
In practice, you don't have to simplify every problem to the atomic level to benefit from this method.
You only have to go one or two levels deeper than most people do.
First principles thinking drives innovation
Imagine you have three things:
- A motorboat with a skier
- A military tank
- A bicycle
Now let's break these items a level deeper.
- Motorboat : motor, the hull, skies
- Tank : metal treads, steel plates, gun
Imagine you have three things:
- A motorboat with a skier
- A military tank
- A bicycle
Now let's break these items a level deeper.
- Motorboat : motor, the hull, skies
- Tank : metal treads, steel plates, gun
- Bicycle : handlebars, wheels, seat
What can you create from these individual parts?
I'd say you can make a military snowmobile.
Combine the handlebars & seat from the bicycle, the gun and metal treads from the tank, and the motor and skies from the boat.
There you go!
What can you create from these individual parts?
I'd say you can make a military snowmobile.
Combine the handlebars & seat from the bicycle, the gun and metal treads from the tank, and the motor and skies from the boat.
There you go!
This the way you should think.
To put it into a nutshell,
First principles thinking, is the process of breaking an instance into its fundamental pieces and then putting them together in a more effective way to create something new.
Deconstruct then reconstruct.
To put it into a nutshell,
First principles thinking, is the process of breaking an instance into its fundamental pieces and then putting them together in a more effective way to create something new.
Deconstruct then reconstruct.
If you ask, why would you break something down and put it back together? Isn't it just a waste of energy?
So, as @farnamstreet once remarked, "If we never learn to take something apart, test the assumptions, and reconstruct it, we end up trapped in what other people tell us."
So, as @farnamstreet once remarked, "If we never learn to take something apart, test the assumptions, and reconstruct it, we end up trapped in what other people tell us."
"We end up being trapped in the way things have always been."
There are many great thinkers who advocate the use of first principles thinking.
Elon Musk, Aristotle, Descartes, Charlie Munger to name a few.
There are many great thinkers who advocate the use of first principles thinking.
Elon Musk, Aristotle, Descartes, Charlie Munger to name a few.
My grandfather who was a mathematics professor, and also an advocate of this technique, was very happy when I started asking him questions about first principles thinking.
I asked him many questions about how he used this technique and did he actually reap any benefits?
I asked him many questions about how he used this technique and did he actually reap any benefits?
He did tell me about the benefits and his version of using it.
But, when I asked him, "What does first principles thinking give you?"
- "You see the world as it is. You see it for what it is."
That's all you need, right?
Looking at the world unfiltered.
But, when I asked him, "What does first principles thinking give you?"
- "You see the world as it is. You see it for what it is."
That's all you need, right?
Looking at the world unfiltered.
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Let others take benefit from it
Till then, have a great day! https://twitter.com/brainvalleysays/status/1359857491455057923?s=19
Let others take benefit from it
Till then, have a great day! https://twitter.com/brainvalleysays/status/1359857491455057923?s=19
