My Research on The First Principles

If you genuinely want to develop clarity, independent thinking, and problem-solving at a fundamental level—this is one of the best tools to master.

What is First Principles Thinking?

First Principles Thinking is the practice of breaking down complicated problems into their most basic, fundamental elements — the “first principles” — and then reassembling them from the ground up.

Core Components of First Principles Thinking

🔍 Example: Building an Electric Car (Elon Musk's Approach)

Definition:

“I think it’s important to reason from first principles rather than by analogy.” — Elon Musk

1. Identify the problem or assumption

2. Break it down to the most fundamental truths

3. Create a solution from scratch using those truths

Traditional thinking: “Batteries are expensive; therefore electric cars must be expensive.”

First principles:

• What are batteries made of? (Cobalt, nickel, aluminum, etc.)

• What are the market prices of these materials?

• Can we build it more cheaply from raw components?

From that, Tesla reinvented the cost structure of electric vehicles.

Here I Researched Few More Examples

1. Elon Musk – Reducing Rocket Costs

Problem: Building rockets is extremely expensive.
Traditional Thinking: "Only governments or massive aerospace companies can afford rockets."

Musk's First Principles Approach:

• Break it down: What are rockets made of?
  → Aluminum, titanium, copper, carbon fiber.

• Calculate material costs: The raw materials cost only ~2% of the price of a rocket.

• Insight: The cost comes from legacy manufacturing systems and inefficiencies.

• Result: Built rockets at a fraction of the cost with SpaceX by redesigning everything from scratch.

✅ Lesson: Don’t accept industry norms. Break the system and rebuild it from components.

2. Intermittent Fasting – Challenging Modern Eating Habits

Traditional Thinking: "You must eat breakfast. Eat every 2–3 hours to stay healthy."

First Principles Thinking:

• What does the body fundamentally need?
  → Energy, nutrients, hydration.

• What happens to the body in fasting states?
  → Ketosis, autophagy, insulin sensitivity improves.

• Evolutionary lens: Did humans eat 6 times a day? No. They ate when food was available.

Result: Intermittent fasting became a globally respected method for weight loss, mental clarity, and longevity—by challenging deeply held assumptions about food timing.

✅ Lesson: Health advice often runs on tradition and marketing — break it down biologically.

3. Steve Jobs – Simplifying Product Design

Problem: Complex devices with too many buttons and features.

First Principles Thinking:

• What’s the core purpose of a phone or device?
  → To communicate, share, connect, think.

• What’s the minimum interface needed to do that?
  → One screen, one button.

Result: The iPhone. It didn’t follow the “what others are doing” mindset—it was rebuilt from purpose.

✅ Lesson: Innovate by asking “What’s the essence of this experience?” then build from that. 

4. Mental Health & Self-Worth

Common Belief: "I feel worthless because others don’t respect or love me."

First Principles Thinking:

• What is self-worth actually?
  → It’s a personal valuation, not dependent on external opinion.

• Is external validation reliable?
  → No, it’s unstable and inconsistent.

• What then can self-worth be based on?
  → Integrity, effort, internal consistency, growth.

Result: Many people have healed deeply by realizing their self-worth can be chosen and built—not begged for.

✅ Lesson: Emotional clarity comes when you rewire your foundational beliefs, not just cope with emotions.

5. Learning Faster – Self-Education

Common Belief: "You must attend college to learn properly."

First Principles Thinking:

• What is education fundamentally?
  → Acquiring knowledge and the ability to solve problems.

• Can this be done without institutions?
  → Yes — books, mentors, YouTube, courses, practice.

• What really matters?
  → Skill, execution, and adaptability.

Result: People like Naval Ravikant, Eric Barone (Stardew Valley), and many self-taught coders have risen without traditional education.

✅ Lesson: Institutions are tools, not necessities. Rebuild learning from your own curiosity + accountability.

6. Starting a Business from Scratch

Assumption: "You need funding, a team, an MBA, and big plans."

First Principles Thinking:

• What does a business fundamentally need?
  → A product that solves a real problem. A way to deliver it. People willing to pay.

• Can I start solving a problem for someone with tools I already have?
  → Yes.

Result: Many solopreneurs built 6–7 figure businesses just by solving problems with no team or capital—like indie developers, freelancers, or info-product creators.

✅ Lesson: Don’t wait for perfection. Strip it down to action.

7. Spiritual Practice or Mindfulness

Common Approach: Do long rituals, read scriptures, follow a guru.

First Principles Thinking:

• What’s the purpose of spirituality?
  → Internal peace, clarity, connection with truth.

• What’s the minimum action that can get me there?
  → Awareness. Breath. Presence. Silence.

Result: Practices like mindful breathing, minimalism, and journaling have transformed lives — without dogma or complex rituals.

✅ Lesson: Strip away the noise and return to essence.

"The farther back you can go toward truth, the more powerfully you can move forward."