FirstPrinciples

First principles thinking follows three steps: deconstruct the problem into irreducible parts, challenge each constraint by classifying it as hard, soft, or assumption, then reconstruct a solution using only the hard constraints. The skill provides dedicated workflows for each step.

Hard constraints come from physics, mathematics, or verified reality and cannot be changed, such as the speed of light. Soft constraints are policies or choices like 'we use REST APIs' that a decision-maker could change, and assumptions are unvalidated beliefs that may be false.

Use it when inherited solutions feel wrong, when costs or complexity seem fixed without justification, or when you are stuck at a local maximum. Reasoning by analogy copies existing solutions, while first principles rebuilds from fundamental truths.

Yes. The Deconstruct workflow breaks stated costs into actual constituent parts, such as separating raw material costs from assembly and margin. This reveals which expenses are fundamental versus convenience choices you are choosing to pay for.

Common anti-patterns include reasoning by analogy, accepting market prices as fundamental, treating policies as physics, and patching broken assumptions instead of rebuilding. The most dangerous constraints are implicit ones never stated aloud.