First Principles Analysis

Overview

Break problems down to their fundamental truths, question every assumption, and rebuild solutions unconstrained by convention.

Work through six phases, but within each phase, have a natural dialogue. Ask one question at a time, follow interesting threads, and don't rush to the next phase until the current one feels complete.

When to Use This

• Existing solutions feel like cargo cult or "we've always done it this way"
• You hear "that's impossible" or "too expensive"
• Industry conventions don't make logical sense
• Need breakthrough rather than incremental improvement
• Something feels like inherited constraint vs actual constraint

The Process

Phase 1: Define the Problem

Don't skip this. Most failed analyses come from solving the wrong problem.

Start by understanding what we're actually trying to achieve. Ask questions like:

• What's the core problem in your own words?
• What would success look like concretely?
• Why does this problem exist?
• What prompted this now?

Stay here until the problem is crystal clear. If it feels fuzzy, keep asking.

Phase 2: Surface Assumptions

Now list everything we're assuming - especially the "obvious" stuff that nobody questions.

Explore together:

• What do we assume to be true about this problem?
• What's "just how it's done" in this space?
• What would someone with zero context find strange?
• What constraints do we take for granted?

Present assumptions back conversationally: "So we're assuming X, Y, and Z - does that capture it, or is there more?"

Phase 3: Question Each Assumption

This is the core of first principles. Take each assumption and interrogate it.

For each one, explore:

• Is this actually true? What's the evidence?
• Why do we believe this? Where did it come from?
• What if the opposite were true?
• Is this physics/logic, or just convention?

Have a genuine dialogue here. Some assumptions will survive scrutiny (those are fundamentals). Others will crumble (those were conventions masquerading as constraints).

Flag each as: Fundamental (keep) or Convention (question further)

Phase 4: Identify Fundamentals

After the questioning, take stock of what remains. These are your building blocks.

Reflect together:

• What constraints are actually real?
• What requirements are truly non-negotiable?
• What's left when we strip away the conventions?

Present: "Here's what I see as the irreducible fundamentals: [list]. Does this feel right?"

Don't proceed until there's agreement on the foundation.

Phase 5: Rebuild From Scratch

Now the creative part. Forget how it's currently done. Using ONLY the fundamentals, explore what's possible.

Guide the exploration:

• If we were starting fresh today, what would we build?
• How do completely different domains solve similar problems?
• What becomes possible now that we've dropped [convention]?

Propose 2-3 radically different approaches. Lead with your recommendation and reasoning, but present alternatives. Discuss trade-offs conversationally.

Phase 6: Validate

Before committing, stress-test the new approach.

Explore:

• Does this actually solve the core problem from Phase 1?
• What new assumptions have we introduced?
• What could go wrong?
• Is this actually implementable?

Be willing to loop back if something doesn't hold up.

Socratic Toolkit

Keep these in your back pocket for any phase:

After the Analysis

Document it:

• Write to docs/plans/YYYY-MM-DD-<topic>-first-principles.md
• Capture: problem, assumptions challenged, fundamentals, new approach
• Commit to git

If implementing:

• Create plan from the new mental model
• Watch for old assumptions creeping back in during implementation

Key Principles

• Question everything - Especially the "obvious"
• One question at a time - Depth over breadth
• Follow threads - If something's interesting, explore it
• Seek fundamentals - Physics, logic, true requirements
• Ignore convention - "How it's done" isn't a reason
• Validate rigorously - New ideas need scrutiny too