“As to methods, there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.” - Harrington Emerson
In the first part of the article, I examined what first principles thinking is, and some examples. In this article, we’ll look at how to start thinking from first principles.
How to think from First Principles
While first principles thinking sounds easy to describe, it is quite difficult to practice. One of the first obstacles to first principles thinking is the tendency to optimize form rather than function.
Here’s an example of what I mean. A popular saying credited to Henry Ford is “If I asked my customer what they wanted, they’d have said a faster horse”. For those living in his days, the solution to better transportation was breeding more horses, or at the best, putting a carriage behind a horse - a technology that had been in existence since bible times.
First principles thinking paves the way for true innovation. Rather than simply iterating what exists and making little tweaks (going from 1 to n), you can literally redefine how we see the world. But first, you have to be willing to go beyond conventional thinking, ignore common assumptions, and dig to the most basic truths.
To start thinking from principles, there are 2 methods that will prove extremely helpful, the first is called 5 whys and Because I told you so, while the second is The Socratic question method.
5 Whys and Because I told you so
Children instinctively think in first principles, because they want to understand what’s happening in the world. To make sense of life and living, they keep asking why. If you have a much younger cousin, neighbor, or sibling, you’ve probably seen this game played, and hate it just as much as I do.
“You need to stop eating sweets”
“Why?”
“You’ll get cavities, and toothache”
“Why do sweets cause toothache”
“Cuz….Look, no sweets because I said so”
We hate this game because it forces us to question our assumptions. Many times, we actually don’t know why we believe some things, we just inherited them, and when those assumptions are challenged, our brains shut down, and we resort to self-defense.
If you will think creatively, solve your daily life problems, or create something unique, then you have to be willing to ask a lot of whys.
Here’s an example:
I don’t have money.
Why?
Most of us never ask this question. We go around looking for one quick scheme or the other, yet we never figure out what the problem is.
The answer to the above question could be:
I don’t have a job, or, I don’t know how to run a business, or I don’t have any skills.
Here’s a powerful truth I discovered. If you ask “Why?” long enough, it will reveal a failing or problem that you have, and we don’t like that.
In the example I gave, you’ll eventually have to face the fact that: You don’t have marketable skills, you have little knowledge about running a business, or you just have poor money management habits. But, it’s easier to ignore it, and blame someone else, like Buhari, or your parents, or the society, or your rich uncle that ignores your calls.
The Socratic Questioning Method
This principle is used to establish first principles through strict analysis. It’s a disciplined questioning process used to establish truths, reveal underlying assumptions, and separate knowledge from ignorance. It generally follows this process:
Clarifying your thinking and explaining the origins of your ideas (Why do I think this? What exactly do I think?)
Challenging assumptions (How do I know this is true? What if I thought the opposite?)
Looking for evidence (How can I back this up? What are the sources?)
Considering alternative perspectives (What if I am wrong? What are the consequences if I am?)
Examining consequences and implications (What if I am wrong? What are the consequences if I am?)
Questioning the original question (Why did I think that? Was I correct? What conclusions can I draw from the reasoning process?)
This process is stringent and time-consuming, but it helps you make better decisions and create better things.
Using First Principles Thinking
The real power of first principles thinking is that it removes the limitations on our thinking. Because you are free from the assumptions that people have, you can see obvious solutions that every other person will miss.
Here’s an example of how using first principles thinking can help eliminate limiting beliefs and make your life better.
“I’m not a good writer”
I hear this a lot from people who wish to start writing and think there is a magic wand that makes people into great writers. The first question I ask them is “Why”. Why do you think you aren’t a good writer, and I hear all sorts of excuses. Using first principles thinking, you can eliminate all assumptions to arrive at the most important question. “What makes a good writer”. You’ll discover that at its most basic, it’s the ability to communicate and be understood.
So, your next plan of action is to figure out how to communicate better, improve your vocabulary, and actually start writing.
Most times, you don’t even need to go down to the most basic principles, just go a bit deeper than what is obvious.
Have you used first principles thinking recently? I’d like to hear about it. Tell me in the comments section
Oh, and don’t forget to share this with that friend that’s always complaining and making excuses.
Great read!