first-principles-decomposer

State the problem, then list every assumption behind the current approach and challenge each one. Keep asking why until you reach irreducible facts, and rebuild a solution using only those verified truths.

It boils a problem down to its most fundamental truths and reasons up from there, rather than reasoning by analogy. The classic example is battery cost: raw materials cost far less than market price, so the solution is better manufacturing.

Use first principles when challenging industry norms or cutting costs by questioning assumptions. Use design thinking when the priority is empathizing with users and prototyping new product concepts.

Common traps include the industry standard trap, the customer-said trap, the technology-exists trap, and the competitor-does-it trap. Each mistakes legacy, stated solutions, or feature bloat for real underlying needs.

It requires effort to distinguish true bedrock facts from disguised assumptions, and it can over-engineer simple problems. It works best for complex, high-stakes decisions rather than routine tasks.