First Principle Thinking, also known as First Principle, is a mode of thinking that requires followersStarting from the most basic principles, through logical reasoning, find out the essence of the problem and the solution, rather than relying on analogy or experience.
Learning Xi first principles can help you think outside the box and avoid being constrained by established forms or assumptions to create more effective and innovative solutions.
Musk is a faithful practitioner and successful practitioner of first principles, and he has demonstrated his innovation and leadership in multiple fields and industries, such as PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, etc. He once said:
I tend to look at things from a physical framework. It is very important that we think about things using first principles, not analogical thinking. ”- Elon Musk
First principles is a method of thinking about and solving problems, which originated in the fields of philosophy and physics, and later was also widely used in applications such as management. 1.The origin of first principles.
The concept of first principles can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. He introduced the concept of "first principles", emphasizing the need to understand the nature of things by breaking down problems to the most basic, non-decomposable principles. This idea was passed down to later philosophers such as Descartes.
"In any system, there is a first principle, a fundamental proposition or assumption, which cannot be omitted or violated. —AristotleIn the field of physics, the idea of first principles was further developed. Both Newton's mechanics and Einstein's theory of relativity are based on first-principles thinking, explaining natural phenomena through fundamental principles that cannot be decomposed. 2.The content of first principles.
The core idea of first principles is to break down a problem into the most basic and non-decomposable elements or principles. These principles should be self-interpretable and self-explanatory independent of other principles. Through the understanding of these fundamental principles, a deep understanding of complex systems can be constructed.
The application of first principles to management is to do subtraction, continuous streamlining, and stripping off the ineffective parts. Musk's bedroom has only one mattress, and after Musk acquired Twitter, according to foreign media reports, the number of employees was reduced from about 8,000 to about 1,500. After rebuilding the system, the number of lines was reduced from 700,000 to 70,000, the overall number of lines was reduced by 90%, and the company's cost was reduced by 60%. Elon Musk's bedroom ** Internet This coincides with the philosophical ideas of Chinese Taoism, "Tao Te Ching" says:
"For the Tao is lost day by day, and it is lost and lost, so that it does nothing. - Lao TzuTaoism also advocates constant subtraction, subtracting all human factors, leaving only natural things, essential things, emphasizing that excessive desire can cause distress to people
"The five colors are blinding;The pentatonic tone is deafening;The five flavors are refreshing;Galloping and hunting, it is maddening;Rare goods, people are in trouble. - Lao TzuAristotle also had the idea of seeing essence through phenomena. He believes that in order to understand things deeply, it is necessary to look at the essence of things through superficial phenomena. This view is elaborated in his book Metaphysics, which is in line with first principles.
3.First-principles approach.
Decompose a complex problem into the most basic elements or principles, and continuously dissect the structure of the problem until it reaches a basic level that can no longer be decomposed. Find out the main contradictions and the main aspects of the contradictions. Identify the underlying assumptions of the problem, which should be non-decomposable and the underlying components of the problem. This is the starting point for building a first-principles system. Identify the most important elements that determine the outcome. Through logical derivation, starting from the basic assumptions, more complex conclusions are gradually derived. This derivation is based on the laws of logic and mathematics. Reasoning verification leads to correct conclusions. The derived conclusions are reassembled to form a comprehensive understanding of the whole problem. This stage can connect first principles with practical problems to find the best solution. 4.Learn Xi the meaning of first principles.
The first-principles approach can help people deeply understand the essence of the problem, go beyond the superficial and grasp the crux of the problem. A deep understanding of the fundamentals can provide a foundation for innovation, using a deductive approach that enables people to find novel solutions rather than just relying on empirical or conventional thinking to find problems. In management, a first-principles approach helps leaders better understand the nature, goals, and operating mechanisms of an organization. Finding the best solution by accurately analyzing the main contradictions and the main aspects of the contradiction helps to develop strategies, solve problems, and drive innovation in the organization. 
First principles is a way of thinking that emphasizes the basic elements and basic principles, and it has important applications in philosophy, science and management, which can help people understand the essence of things more deeply, grasp the main points, reduce redundant link steps, and improve the efficiency of decision-making.
5.How Musk works using first principles.
When Musk wanted to launch a rocket to Mars, he found that the rockets on the market were very expensive, up to $65 million. Instead of accepting this, he returned to the basic principle of the rocket, that is, what materials the rocket is made of and what is the market ** for these materials. He found that if the carbon, nickel, aluminum and other raw materials required for the rocket are purchased from the London Metal Exchange, and then SpaceX builds its own factory to develop and manufacture it, instead of directly buying **chain products, the ** rocket can be greatly reduced after it is put into production. When Musk wanted to develop electric vehicles, he did not follow the traditional way of designing and manufacturing cars, but started from the basic principles of batteries, that is, what batteries are made of, how to improve the energy density and life of batteries, and how to reduce the cost and weight of batteries. He found that if the 18650 model lithium-ion battery was used, rather than a battery specifically designed for automobiles, the performance and efficiency of the battery could be greatly improved, while the battery's ** could be reduced. When Musk bought Twitter, he didn't follow the traditional Internet way, but started from the basic principles of how many employees are needed, the lowest cost, the most efficient, and server expenses. He found that it didn't take so many people to run Twitter, the core needed to be streamlined, the cost of renting servers was too high, and the cost of streamlining was reduced by 60%, the number of employees was reduced to 1,500, and the operational efficiency improved.