First Principles

When things become hazy, it might be time to stop, breathe, and start from first principles. First principles thinking involves breaking down complex problems into their most basic components and questioning every assumption. By understanding the foundational elements, engineers can rebuild systems from scratch or optimise existing solutions without being limited by conventional or outdated wisdom. This model helps reveal underlying truths, encourages creative solutions, and supports designing robust solutions. It’s especially useful when facing new challenges, integrating emerging technologies, or debating the necessity of legacy components. Forget everything you know and start again. Go back to the beginning. What are you trying to solve? What is the input, and what is the output? Forget about existing code and structure. What would you do if starting from scratch? The idea is to break down complicated problems as far as you can and then think from the ground up. One great way to achieve that is to use Five Whys: ask why as many times as necessary. Thinking from first principles is also an excellent opportunity to learn more about a subject and acquire knowledge.

“What I cannot create, I do not understand. Know how to solve every problem that has been solved.” — Richard Feynman