First Principles Thinking: The Basics

"If you're looking for trouble, you came to the right place... "

Elvis Presley sang that in 1958. It could just as easily be our theme song today. We live in a world packed with information, gadgets, and buzzwords. Everyone’s hunting for the next big idea. But what if the best ideas come from the oldest ways of thinking?

Let’s talk about First Principles Thinking—a way of solving problems that’s ancient and simple, but still powerful enough for Elon Musk.

What Is First Principles Thinking?

Most people solve problems by copying what’s already been done. It’s like using Lego blocks without ever changing their shape.

First Principles Thinking is different. It’s about breaking things down to the basics and starting fresh. Instead of asking, "How is this usually done?" it asks, "What’s the real problem here?"

Elon Musk and Rockets

When Elon Musk wanted to make space travel cheaper, he didn’t accept rocket costs as fixed. He asked:

- What are rockets made of?

- Why do they cost so much?

He found that the raw materials—aluminium, titanium, and carbon fibre—were cheap. The real cost came from wasteful manufacturing and single-use rockets. So, he made reusable rockets. And SpaceX took off.

Old Wisdom, Modern Problems

Elon Musk isn’t the first to think this way. Over 2,000 years ago, Aristotle talked about "first causes"—the basic reasons why things are the way they are. In India, the Nyaya and Vaisheshika schools of philosophy did something similar.

For example, Nyaya thinkers studied pots:

- What is a pot made of? (Clay)

- Who shaped it? (A potter)

- Why does it look like a pot? (Its design)

- Why was it made? (To hold water)

Swap the pot for a business problem, and you’ve got First Principles Thinking. It’s about asking questions until you find the truth.

How Do You Use It?

It’s simple. Pick a problem. Keep asking "Why?" until you hit the basics.

- Why is my commute so long? (Traffic)

- Why is there traffic? (Bad road design)

- Why are roads badly designed? (Old plans)

- Why not fix the plans? (Too expensive)

- How can it be cheaper?

Boom. You are on your way to getting better at first principles thinking.

Whether you’re solving big problems, small problems, or just trying to make the perfect cup of chai—start at the basics. Break it down. Build it back up.

Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the smartest ones.

#FirstPrinciples #SimpleThinking #ProblemSolving