First Principles 101 Many of the world's greatest thinkers and doers - from @naval and @elonmusk to @nntaleb and @chamath - tout the importance of first principles thinking. But what is "first principles thinking" and how does it work? Here's First Principles... See more

People talk about first-principles thinking, but most people don't really know what it is or how to apply it. In this week's essay, I do my best to explain it, give you a practical set of steps for applying it in your work, and share a ton of examples of product leaders using it, including @gdb @MrBeast @annewoj23... See more

First principles is a problem-solving technique where you break down complex problems into their most basic and fundamental parts. Instead of building on existing assumptions and knowledge, you start from the ground up, questioning everything and identifying the core components that cannot be reduced any further. By understanding these basic... See more

A first principle is a basic assumption that cannot be deduced any further. Over two thousand years ago, Aristotle defined a first principle as “the first basis from which a thing is known.”

First principles thinking is a fancy way of saying “think like a scientist.” Scientists don’t assume anything. They start with questions like, What are we... See more