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First Principles Thinking

First-principles thinking is one of the best ways to reverse-engineer complicated problems and unleash creative possibility. Sometimes called “reasoning from first principles,” the idea is to break down complicated problems into basic elements and then reassemble them from the ground up. It’s one of the best ways to learn to think for yourself, unlock your creative potential, and move from linear to non-linear results. https://fs.blog/first-principles/

This is a key part of our methodology and what we offer to the trading ecosystem. Asking the right Eigen Questions

Aggregators are a naive approach, first principle thinking has led to a ground up emphasis towards predictivity

The concept explained further

My friend Mike Lombardi (a former NFL executive) and I were having dinner in L.A. one night, and he said, “Not everyone that’s a coach is really a coach. Some of them are just play stealers.”

Socratic Questioning

Socratic questioning can be used to establish first principles through stringent analysis. This a disciplined questioning process, used to establish truths, reveal underlying assumptions, and separate knowledge from ignorance. The key distinction between Socratic questioning and normal discussions is that the former seeks to draw out first principles in a systematic manner. Socratic questioning generally follows this process:

  1. Clarifying your thinking and explaining the origins of your ideas (Why do I think this? What exactly do I think?)

  2. Challenging assumptions (How do I know this is true? What if I thought the opposite?)

  3. Looking for evidence (How can I back this up? What are the sources?)

  4. Considering alternative perspectives (What might others think? How do I know I am correct?)

  5. Examining consequences and implications (What if I am wrong? What are the consequences if I am?)

  6. Questioning the original questions (Why did I think that? Was I correct? What conclusions can I draw from the reasoning process?)

This process stops you from relying on your gut and limits strong emotional responses. This process helps you build something that lasts.

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