The Most Powerful Way to Think | First Principles
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
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First principle thinking can also be applied to art. Most people view art as "Wow! Look at how complex that is! I'll never draw anything like that". But really, art is built out of fundamental shapes. Artists start drawing by drafting shapes and add more and more detail to make something outstanding. Anyone can become great artists, but you need that first principle thinking.
If you memorize how to draw and paint a Mona Lisa, you only produce a Mona Lisa.
If you understand that Mona Lisa is made out of basic shapes, you produce endless possibilities.
It's best to take the apple seed instead of the apple.
Not if you splash colours at random and call it modern art.
Great explanation. That's what I think too. Whenever I want to do something, even if it's a very simple task, I always think in first principle such as when I'm creating simple Applications.
I love the way you explained it!
"If you feed a man fish, you feed him for one day. If you teach a man HOW to fish, you feed him for life". This came to mind when reading your comment
Obviously being able to break down shapes is the very first step in being an artist, but it's really only the most basic piece. You've really only described one facet of being an artist. My brother can play a guitar really well, but he can only play songs he's memorized. He has the technical ability to recreate pretty things, but he lacks the ability to make pretty things.
Understanding how to draw anything you want isn't the same thing as having the ability to do it nor is it the same thing as having the ability to draw something beautiful or inspiring. You can't break down the physical ability into first principles. A man with shaky hands can't understand his way into straight lines. That being said, you could probably break down beauty and inspiration into first principles to a degree. Aristotle actually had a real hard on for trying to quantify beauty. Obviously everyone will have different tastes, but even that has a reason behind it.
The essence of the powerful mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.
Decode Channel Why it thinks
I personally think its How, why and also What...
@@yt-sh Yeah. They're very intertwined.
@ Decode channel when will you make new videos?
is this quote from the book "7 habbits of highly effective people" ?
I've been think from 1st Principles for 40 years. It is SO REFRESHING! to see young people come to this enlightenment and begin to use its power. Many thanks for giving an old man a breath of fresh air and hope!
We all need to do that and I have written about the politic in this context. See my book, "Assholes and Bullshit: A Language Problem"
get a new thought ...40 years???
"The ultimate truth seeker must not be satisfied with fruit. Yet, they realize that the search for roots is never ending." 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
This is so very true, throughout my studies of philosophy and psychology a lot of the things I learned seemed to not connect at all. As time goes by, I gain greater understanding of them, I start to be able to see how they link up, it’s like a chain reaction that results in something. Things like how people fall in love, and how confidence is a big part of success.
Would you enlighten your last sentence? Seems so interesting what you found out :))
It’s because most philo has paradoxes and psychology is bs , you can derive human behaviors from biology. First principles thinking consists of deriving things to their fundamental proven axioms in the given arena, before reasoning up by asking which ones are relevant to the question at hand, then cross referencing conclusions based on chosen axioms and making sure conclusions don't violate any fundamental laws. Physicists include counterintuitive concepts with reiteration.
First principles thinking consists of deriving things to their fundamental proven axioms in the given arena, before reasoning up by asking which ones are relevant to the question at hand, then cross referencing conclusions based on chosen axioms and making sure conclusions don't violate any fundamental laws. Physicists include counterintuitive concepts with reiteration.
Being grateful is like thinking powerfully, you get to the fundamentals of what you have, see, or go through.
For example, you have a computer or a cell phone, often we don't care who made them or how they were made, but being grateful for having it will lead you to think to the people engaged in the making of that object, like who gathered the materials, who built it and who sold it to you. Being grateful is the most powerful way to be and think.
Clarity in one's own thoughts defines the quality of the life
That's a strong statement but not necessarily right on all the cases.
Applying Practical principal are maps for Creating a Systematic layer for Inovation , Development, from Concrete Concepts and Abstract Ideas or though
I've discovered through my experience that self-love is the first principle for a fulfilling life.
Love of being?
I’ve came to the conclusion that a strong foundation for real confidence is self-love.
Confidence, purpose, belief
Absolutely! This is so true
Okay Coomer
It is as easy and simple as always asking “why” until you hit an end. You do not need complex hierarchies
only some ppl have this capability. assuming everyone else can do this naturally is the dangers of being a first priciples thinker.
@@baotrinh3955 you're right!
@@baotrinh3955 I've done this all my life. What are the dangers? I don't understand.
Applying Practical principal are maps for Creating a Systematic layer for Inovation , Development, from Concrete Concepts From Abstract Ideas
so this 8min video can be summarised as asking why until you hit an end? you should get pin to the top so no one need to waste 8min.
A bit surprised this didn't lead to a Grammarly ad
Bro, these ads are targeted just for you....don't give away your weaknesses
@@swanandjoshi333 chill its just a ad
@@signal6307 XD
Hmm ... I just got a cracker barrel cheese ad ...
Want to become good at this? Study the three following areas.
1:Logic (TRUE Logic it should have some equations that look like this ~p & q -> ~t )
2: Mathematics (True mathematics. Honestly it may be best for you to start with discrete mathematics to understand what I mean when I say "true mathematics")
3: Computer Science (True computer science, not these programming degrees that a lot of universities call computer science. In order to understand CS truly you would have to take both computer science and computer engineering at most universities to get it.)
The first one teaches you how to evaluate things at the most basic fundamental levels. If you practice and become good at it, you would be able to break down anything that is said and see if it falls into the category of logical fallacy, and to make sure it's a WFF (Well formed formula). If it is a logical fallacy it can't be true, if it's not a WFF it also can't be true. If it is a WFF and not a logical fallacy then it is called 'logically consistent' meaning that the only time it can be untrue is if the premises are untrue. An example of a untrue logically consistent argument would be "if god exists and the universe exists, then god created the universe, god exists, therefore the universe was created." This is a WFF but logic has no baring on the truth of the variables used, those must be determined individually, another example of a WFF would be "If doesn't god exists and the universe does exist, then god didn't create the universe, god doesn't exist and the universe does exist, therefore god did not create the universe." Both are logically true, but may not be actually true. Logic is a way to determine somethings truth assume that the premises and conclusions are true. So both my statements above are true, but are contradictions to each other.
The second one I often hear people say that they hate, and honestly I think that is because of how you were taught math. In complete honesty, I recommend using Kahn academy from pre-school math, up through calculus, diffeq, linear algebra, and beyond. I think that understanding math is THE single best way to improve your life period. Why? Because math does not just deal with quantities, it deals with an understanding of the universe that cannot be matched. If you learn all of mathematics, and then take a physics course, it will change the way you view your life and the universe around you completely. You will see things you never noticed before. Things that appear to be reserved for the extremely intelligent that you think 'I could never do that' become every day things that are so simple to you that you feel connected in a new and satisfying way. It GIVES you power, unbelievable power to actualize your ideas and thoughts in a way no other system can.
As an example, when I first took physics and learned about kinematics I was blown away by not only how simple it was to calculate things I thought would be difficult, but I started viewing the world differently. I recall walking to my physics lap early in the morning, and paying attention to my feet as I walked. It was a cold morning in November and I was wearing a heavy winter coat with nobody around in the center of my universities main mall. I knew how my body was converting my energy with each step I took to propel me forward, and how gravity was fighting that change every step. My brain was sending electromagnetic signals to not only make me move forward, but also to make me think about what I was doing, being able to observe it. I knew I could apply math to the entire system around me. I was wearing a coat to keep my internal heat in and reduce the amount that was being taken from the environment. It's extremely satisfying to know all this.
If you think you can't learn math, then I am going to tell you that you're wrong. I am sorry that it was taught to you so poorly, but please trust me when I say you definitely can learn it. It probably won't be easy to start, even frustrating, but don't give up. I promise you it will become easy with time. When I first took calculus I had a hard time understanding it (mostly because of the teacher in this case) and I ended up with a C at the end of the class. I retook it because I didn't think I knew it well enough, and got an A in calc 1, and 2, but Physics is what solidified some of the concepts in math for me, like what derivatives and integrals were.
Now, I can literally do calculus in my sleep. I know this because I have had my father wake me up and ask me a question to which I replied with a calculus formula and went into detail about what it was. When I woke up more and realized what I was doing, I checked my math and it still checked out while I was awake. You can do it! Learn math fully!
Computer Science might seem like an odd thing to add to this list, but I can assure you it's not. All three of the topics I mentioned build off of each other in various ways. Computer science gives you an understanding that basic mathematics and logic do not. It's completely practical in it's approach. In other words, it allows you to build systems that can be implemented physically, and using those systems you can create things that are so complex in their understanding of the universe that the average person cannot fathom them.
Good luck on your journey, should you choose to take it!
i need someone to remind me to read this again later
@@tammemmaaref3544 its time to read this again my friend
@@rajansubedi7000 thanks i really appreciate it.
I 100% agree with you. Realy cant agree more.
Have to say I am pretty lucky to have the ability to understand concepts and patterns pretty easily in relatively short timeperiod, i am also very perceptive. Many times when i head somewhere i think of the world i see in physical rules. Just like you described.
But on the other hand, i am very totally fucking lazy, and i hate my self for that, but i cant help it. I wish to learn how to program, but i cant get my self into it. I know it is an important ability to know, maybe the most important ability in 21. century.
So yeah, all you said is true, but when you have a mindset like me you are fucked... I need to get into a deep level crisis, in order for me to wake up i guess...
DzaMiQ I was the same way, this video was the entrance to my rabbit hole with this kinda stuff. Once you start don’t stop. It’s easier than you think ua-cam.com/video/ekMFYCgVotM/v-deo.html
the fundamentals of an essay are the concepts being communicated. The letters, words, sentences, and paragraphs only exist to serve the needs of the concepts. Perfection of the structural components is needed to pull it off in most cases, but a fantastic concept can be communicated with technical or tactical errors and still come across clearly and have great impact, due to the logic, or meaning of the concept itself.
1 - Your videos are deep in understanding and not shallow common, cliche ideas.
2 - The rithm of the voice is better on each video. The pace in this one is perfect.
3 - The type of animation is orginial and satisfaying to the eye.
Awesome!
First principles thinking consists of deriving things to their fundamental proven axioms in the given arena, before reasoning up by asking which ones are relevant to the question at hand, then cross referencing conclusions based on chosen axioms and making sure conclusions don't violate any fundamental laws. Physicists include counterintuitive concepts with reiteration.
this vid is bs, first principles thinking consists of deriving things to their fundamental proven axioms in the given arena, before reasoning up by asking which ones are relevant to the question at hand, then cross referencing conclusions based on chosen axioms and making sure conclusions don't violate any fundamental laws. Physicists include counterintuitive concepts with reiteration.
small feedback: the music/background audio was a bit weird. it sometimes feels like a melody played backwards which can be quite irritating and distracting
This is one of the most important things I've learned in my life.
this vid. is bs, First principles thinking consists of deriving things to their fundamental proven axioms in the given arena, before reasoning up by asking which ones are relevant to the question at hand, then cross referencing conclusions based on chosen axioms and making sure conclusions don't violate any fundamental laws. Physicists include counterintuitive concepts with reiteration.
@@RR-et6zp yes it is to assume (first principles) rationally versus to observe rationally
I like how he always names his videos in a way that sounds promising and you think you will figure out something.
Then just leaves you more confused.
It's colloquially called clickbait.
I don’t quite agree here with this particular video, but I can see what you mean. that’s because I had to separate the golden nuggets or apples of his video before the added bits at the end of advertising and even in the beginning. He’s giving very abstract ideas and in hopes to spur us to take the courses while also giving some tools, or something to look more into.
What left you confused here though?
I felt that the point was the principle of thought, and how in anything the quality of the parts that make the core feed the creation or outputs. A way to break things down.
Lol so true.
@@LazyOtaku it seems pretty clear to many of other commenters.
Today I Learned that I have always been a first principles thinker.
why - internal logic
how - external logic
what - realism
what if - imagination/possibilities
when - internal memory
where (what) - external memory/sensory perception
is this an example of first principle thinking?
How so?
Applying Practical principal for Creating Systematic layered Knowledge maps for New Innovations , and Development, from Concrete Proving Concepts or a Way of Consolidating Complex unrelated and Abstract Ideas Ontologically .This Third Approach Could lead to A more Dynamic way of learning and finding Real life Structural Solutions for Complex Engineering problems ,Ex Reducing or Reverse engineering biological systems , to enzymes, DNA , Transcription, Chemical systems to Physical and Quantum representation , Computer systems to Binary and Mathematical inductive Approach ,Ex.Algorithms and Data Structure, user interface
this is an example of an organized mind
Logic - Axioms
Causality - Cause-and-Effect
Reality - Existence
Potentiality - Change
Memory - Permanence
Perception - Interpretation
Language and Communication - Symbolism
I would add a few more social science related first principles.
Logic - Axioms
Causality - Cause-and-Effect
Reality - Existence
Potentiality - Change
Memory - Permanence
Perception - Interpretation
Language - Symbolism
Empathy - Understanding Others
Creativity - Innovation
Uncertainty - Probability
Adaptability - Survival
Ethics - Morality
I love that you are explaining first principles thinking using an analogy.
I use this concept in Algebra. Understanding what I’m looking for and then using my toolbox of compounded numbers, exponents, equations, formulas, terminology to find the answer feels nice.
me after learning PEMDAS
can u tell me how please ?
I'm gonna try this in probability.. It's literally killing me
This channel is really way ahead of its time when it comes to explanation since then I keep referring to your videos and kept coming back even throughout the years.
I think this is very good advice. What I would also encourage people to do is learn to always realize that, even if they believe they are operating from first principals, that they are fallible. In this regard, our egos are not our friends. Learning is much easier when one does not identify 'self' with 'belief'. Or, to but it more succinctly, "It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so."
i second that. Though we can, if we do, reduce a subject to its fundamental elements and have drawn a hierarchy; one must always realize like how they found electrons, and neutrons when they thought atom was indivisible; and furthermore went down to breaking down electrons to some combination of quarks and minuscule particle we don't remember in our daily life, other people too will, or maybe even you when you try, will always go down deeper to understand these things with your microscopic sense of knowledge-attainment.
Do not believe that its the end when you could draw up a working (keyword: working because all of the smaller components you have collected is true, and hence have a hierarchical relation and are dependent on one another; and also that you could prove that it works that way) collection of components; there are always more people who would further, or have already further broken it down, and we must always be in the lookout for a much deeper and rich understanding.
Drawing helped me think like this
Main thought: first master fundmentals
That’s a big part of it. But, if I could elaborate: master the fundamentals and create a structured body of knowledge. Being aware of how the information is organized in a subject and how it is hierarchically related is really important so that you can alter the layer at which you analyze.
You know your stuff, appreciate that.
Mastering is quite subjective.
I think when it comes to human brains, it can be defined as "good enough" knowledge. In the sense, as "good as it works". If you find something that works and fits, add it to the tree. You can update and optimize it later.
thanks very helpful thought
You should try following your own advice before attempting to give advice to others.
These principles are very true and are nearly identical to those found in System Engineering Management (SEM). In SEM we also have the System Engineering process where the high level functional requirement is broken down into the lower levels and components. This is an accurate quantified process, followed by integration to deliver a high level product which is consistent in it's design/ composition.
Thanks for this video! I applied this thought process to learn the fundamentals accounting (the subject I used to struggle in) and now I am one of the best in my class. Thank you so much!
First principles thinking consists of deriving things to their fundamental proven axioms in the given arena, before reasoning up by asking which ones are relevant to the question at hand, then cross referencing conclusions based on chosen axioms and making sure conclusions don't violate any fundamental laws. Physicists include counterintuitive concepts with reiteration.
@@RR-et6zpcan you pls explain in very simply , iam a dumb guy 😅, I guess it's so complex
What I love the most is that he applied what he was telling us in the video to the video itself in a great way (as he does with his other content)! Keep up the great work!
My take-aways:
Deep/good-quality knowledge comes from facts and rational organization.
First principle thinking is a way to rationaly organize knowledge which focuses on breaking things down to their most fundamental elements and understand the different layers which makes the thing up from its most elements elements to its visible/finished reality.
Though I'm not so convinced by the example on how to make a good book, the idea of layers is well represented with the letters being the most fundamental elements, they compose the words, words compose sentences, sentences paragraph, etc. This approach of first principles and layers is really interesting. It applies very well for technology and programmation. If you study computer you will realize its all about layers of abstraction, from the basics electric signals running in the hardware up the graphical interfaces, passing to different layers of abstractions (kernel, OS, low-level elements, high-elements).
More broadly, as said in the video, I also find this first-principle/hierarchy-organization approach epecially strong for teaching/learning as well as optimizing and innovating systems. Technology is the best example I can think of where the three applies very well.
First principles thinking consists of deriving things to their fundamental proven axioms in the given arena, before reasoning up by asking which ones are relevant to the question at hand, then cross referencing conclusions based on chosen axioms and making sure conclusions don't violate any fundamental laws. Physicists include counterintuitive concepts with reiteration.
a reminder, if you put a link to the previous video in the description or at the beginning of the video, those who are curious about the series but stumbled into the middle can find the previous parts more easily. Similarly, if you link to the next video in the series a random person will more easily find the next part in the series.
Great video, I quite agree. One thing my earliest mentors always insisted upon was the importance of getting to the crux of a matter, distilling down to the core and fundamental parts of a given thing. Principles first thinking, boiling down to how and why a thing works, is essential to powerful thinking and successful endeavors. One must follow a line of reasoning down to the core principles to really have any meaningful understanding of a topic. Great video indeed.
I believe somehow most of us are doing this type of thinking in our lives, without actually knowing it!!! But its great to know about this terminology... basically, First Principle Thinking is to get to the core of a idea / information to identify its components and the core. Then to create connections between what you already knew and then to create something useful out of it.... Historically, we humans have done every innovation or discovery through this method!!!
This is usually how my brain works but I just called it “reverse engineering”. Didn’t know it was a big thing. I’ve thought about how to reduce poverty and violence since I live near both. The conclusion is education. I’ve reversed engineered this issue in my head multiple times and it comes down to education. I guess I can call it first principal now but I like mine better. Good video!
Same. TIL rationality has been rebranded as “first principle thinking” lol
Omg! I've been "reversed engineering" too about the same issues, and my conclusion comes down to education as well!! I guess we're on the right track ☺️.
"The conclusion is education." True, but excessively abstract and therefore not actually a conclusion. Which specific methods of providing said education do you think would be effective? By the way, I don't think I need to say this but just in case, that isn't to be confused with "which methods of providing said education do you _want_ to think would be effective". Those two notions are rather distinct.
We have had a very similiar thought patterns! I totally agree with that it is the education. Not just the ''public school fragmented knowledge'' . It is this, understanding of fundamentals/first principle . Basic Geometry, math, logic and grammar. Then its up to ones creativity and courage what one does with it / applies to.
First principles thinking consists of deriving things to their fundamental proven axioms in the given arena, before reasoning up by asking which ones are relevant to the question at hand, then cross referencing conclusions based on chosen axioms and making sure conclusions don't violate any fundamental laws. Physicists include counterintuitive concepts with reiteration.
I swear I used to do this and think this way without even knowing it. I thought everyone thought like me, where I would be chasing this insatiable curiosity to answer the how's and why's. Many times I came across others who didn't have the answers for me, despite their successes and I was stil frustrated that I couldn't get answers from them. This has lead me to finally take responsibility for my own choices and actions so that I can find out for myself what the first principles are. In many ways I tidy my bedroom using this process. I lay everything out in it's constituent parts and then I piece together and clump together the things into various categories.
I wish every teacher in high school understand the importance of this!!
True, im grade 8 right now and out of all the teachers ive had, there have only been one that used the first principle
Using the analogy of an apple tree to explain the concept of First Principle thinking and how analogous thinking is the way 99% of everyone operates.
Touché
Buddy please never stop making videos they are amazing and your prospective of looking at things are also really awesome so much to learn . And thank you for making this video
Checkout my channel also for more awesome videos like this ... :D
Every day, every day, everything gets better
Thank you
Thank you
Music definitely helped me understand the importance of first principles thinking. I can look at someone playing a masterful solo and be bedazzled by it. I can take the time and effort to copy their moves exactly, and I'll eventually be able to play that perfect guitar solo. However, if I take out the time to understand the scales and the notes that go into making that solo, I'll not only be able to play that solo but also create my own. I use this method to learn anything in life now and it works brilliantly in making important business decisions, life decisions and even in understanding what you're really good at to make a career out of it.
Great video thanks!
hello my name is Ahmad Shoib from Afghanistan. I am really proud of you man with such description of topics. thanks and please upload more videos.
When i see i have been using first principles for 20 years:
You know
Im something of a scientist myself
Most valuable UA-cam content I came accross during the last 5 years. Thank you !
3:33 "An idea that blooms from true and beautiful First Principles, will in itself be beautiful and true!"
The master key 🔑
I was about to start my free trial on *The Great Courses Plus* directly on their website, then i remembered that this channel fucking awesome channel has an affiliate link so i opened youtube and search "the great courses plus freedom in thought", and here I am... Hope the affiliate link posted in the video description still works. I'm happy to be able to support this channel without spending additional money :)
its more about how Great thinkers/philosophers think. Power is much more subjective than that
How would you define power? This is a part 2 to my last video on power where I defined it and laid out my framework.
Freedom in Thought I believe understanding things to their core is something crucial and important to become powerful too. But we see some people all the time who are highly influential and considered "powerful"...not all of them possess great knowledge. The thing which sets them apart from the great thinkers is that they understand how the world works and they are good at manipulating the system to their advantage. Yeah I watched your previous video, this is just my opinion on power :)
Would you not agree that if certain powerful people understand how the world works and they are good at manipulating people then they have a certain understanding of truth that allows them to accomplish the things they do? I would say those kinds of people have enough of an understanding of truth to accomplish what they have but their understanding of truth is not sufficient enough to last which is why they usually meet their doom
Freedom in Thought yes exactly! Even power fades away
+lJ Power will be fake when the species goes rightfully extinct.
Good video. First principal thinking helped me get better at math for the past 2 years. Before I was just trying to memorize the answer but then I realized that I had to understand basic math concepts in order to understand the more complex concepts
Empirical studies of experts repeatedly demonstrate that experts hold MULTIPLE representations of their knowledge. Frequently, ONE of those representations is organized around core principles, but not only that. Another thing we've learned from studying experts in various domains is that they frequently PROVIDE first principle solutions to problems that they did not actually solve through using first principles but actually by other means/reasoning (using other representations of their knowledge) with the result that accounts of using first principles are not as common as believed--even by those giving them. That is, domain experts use multiple knowledge representations to reason, analyze and solve problems. Lastly, because our knowledge is organized around first principles does not at all mean that we first learned the frist principles and then built our knowledge around them. There is a dynamic relationship between first principles and other categories of knowledge and my observation is that in academia first-principles is over-emphasized in teaching contexts. Newton's three laws are the MOST abstract statement of physical laws (principles) and so starting with those when teaching is starting with knowledge most alien to novices, contradicting the pedagogical principle of "Start where your students are." While those laws when deeply understood and richly elaborated are extremely powerful for experts, they are often inaccessible or only superficially understood in even a year of studying physics, so not powerful for novices.
Interesting thank you
This channel is pure gold.
You got it wrong :( Why """letters""" would be the first principles of an essay ? I would say the first component of an well-written essay is the concept itself/the meaning hidden behind each words, that's what determines the postulate and the very first idea behind the essay.
wouldn't it actually be the case that, whatever the first principles of observation are, would be the first principles of the concept and it's meaning? ;]
This gets at an interesting problem with first principle thinking. One must be capable of finding out the first principle and perhaps there is no such thing? Or maybe it is impossible to discover it through sense experience or current technology? Maybe one can always keep dividing a principle and finding more fundamental parts. In physics the atom was thought to be the fundamental particle of the universe. Then our ability to observe deeper improved and protons, electrons and neutrons were discovered. Now we have discovered even more fundamental particles like strings and quarks. It may be that there are an unlimited number of more fundamental parts and that we are simply dividing to infinity.
An essay is the _medium_ of the concept, so would a spoken work, or even a multi-modal medium like a documentary.
When talking about an essay in *itself* the first principles of an essay-to *best accomplish the effect of acting as a medium for a concept*-would be the basic components that make up an essay, which are the letters, which make up the words, which make up the sentences, and so on.
This video producer did not get it wrong, the basic principles of the two objects were just misconstrued. Where that misconstruction happened, I will leave to you, “Wolfgang.”
Yes, I believe the video's example of essay is wrong. That's like saying that with painting, you have to learn paint. To hold paint, you need your hand. To use your hand you need to understand muscle control. To control muscle, you need to train. Some people may go as deep and question the connection between motion and painting, but maybe looking at paintings from the observer perspective is the right approach. So for the essay, it revolves around the reader.
I would say what comes after sentence is grammar, not words. Then words. Then etymology. Then that's just ideas and association. Letters are a detail.
How are you still alive???
i applied this idea to myself. i wanna be prepared for anything in life, for any experience. so i keep myself ready.
i exercise, i keep good posture, i play chess, i write music, i skate, i study philosophy, etc
Another great educational Video! I really like the style of your visuals (the colors, the transitions, the animations), the way you structure and explain the topic. Keep it up! :D
Thanks! The art for this video was done by Arianna Belotti (she also animated the school videos). She’s really talented
Applying Practical principal for Creating Systematic layered Knowledge maps for New Innovations , and Development, from Concrete Proving Concepts or a Way of Consolidating Complex unrelated and Abstract Ideas Ontologically .This Third Approach Could lead to A more Dynamic way of learning and finding Real life Structural Solutions for Complex Engineering problems ,Ex Reducing or Reverse engineering biological systems , to enzymes, DNA , Transcription, Chemical systems to Physical and Quantum representation , Computer systems to Binary and Mathematical inductive Approach ,Ex.Algorithms and Data Structure, user interface
This video is pure gold! Just loved it
"morphemes" are the component parts of a word. Letters are just functional phonetic representations of how we write these meaningful sounds.
This guy understands. This video is about reductionism, not first principles.
Reductionism is about using component parts from a given model.
First principles is about creating models.
Reductionism would make you think you can teach someone language by teaching them letters / conjugations etc.
No. People learn language first by speaking it. The structure of that language is understood by analysis of the subject itself. Linguistics provides us with _models_ - but those models are still models.
Reductionism is using the periodic table.
First principles is inventing a periodic table.
Reductionism is using the Bohr model.
First principles is coming up with the quantum physical interpretation.
I really like your clean & non click bait video thumbnails.
It's pretty cool that I've known this concept for years, but am just now getting a label and a philosophy for it.
I was made aware of this by learning how to learn things, by school subjects. They made the comparison of teaching kids math and teaching kids history. To learn math imagine going from the top, down a vertical line of topics. You can't skip subjects, you have to learn something to keep going down that line. In that way anyone can be a mathematician, if you have the interest, discipline, and patience to learn basic to advance in order.
When you think about it, all of math from say The Big Bang Theory's chalk boards are two operations: Addition, and Subtraction. The rest is understanding the rules, order, and shortcuts of operations. That's, it
Now compare that to history. Imagine that history is a horizontal line. To teach a kid history, you can jump to anywhere on the line, and that kid will have a pretty complete understanding of that event. He doesn't need to know about the French Revolution to understand the American Revolution, even tho they happened practically at the same time.
You don't have go from left to right on the line, just jump to wherever you want. To be an historical expert, you can literally concentrate on one topic. You don't have to know everything
So this video was pretty cool. I'll be sure to share it with my friends
I love how first principles thinking is such a difficult thing for people to master that a lot of people, especially here in the comments are using analogies to understand it
Exactly!
Teach
Optimize
Innovate
Learn
TOIL sounds about right when you're a First Principles Thinker!
This is one of the very few videos that's I've actually had to slow down playback speed, haha you're throwing so much knowledge at me that I need time to process it 😅
Every education channel is sponsored by the "Great Courses Plus"
Yeah, they’re a great fit!
Also: Squarespace
Earth Traveler how do you think the great courses plus made their website?
@@ethanrepublic lol
Or brilliant.org or curiositystream.com
Almost no content here, just one beautiful concept explained over and over again all throughout.
Holy shit, I realised that I have tried to be a first principle thinker for all these years without knowing
This is all a fine explanation of what you're trying to get across. The one thing I might recommend is not using an Apple tree as your metaphor. Apples actually require grafting as the primary process for growing apples capable of being eaten. If you plant an apple seed, it doesn't quite work. The way you're metaphor lays it out as. Just a thought.
Before going down this path you should consider you're likely to be more and more alone. Maybe not lonely. But for sure the better your thinking the less you are going to fit in. You likely will become more bored with others. For some people this is OK. But many people crave social interaction and imo this path would be ruinous.
Once they’ve reduced an idea down to the smallest fundamentals that they can conceive. One of the best ways to discover these fundamentals is by actually writing down and organizing the information in a subject that you're interested in by using a hierarchy or a mind map like how we did with the essay.
This is funny because a few months ago I can up with a concept that I use to learn. I enjoy learning new things, and people are amazed at how fast and how deeply I can learn a subject. Programmers love to use and utilize the Divide and conquer method, basically breaking a problem down into its simplest parts. I broke down the way I learn into three different parts, which are "understanding the concepts" than "understanding how those concepts work in a bigger picture" than "understanding how to implement those concepts."
truly great content. people who are back lashing this video clearly have not absorbed its information in great detail.
This mode of thinking is most certainly useful, but it isn't perfect. One has to be careful not to make the logical error "Fallacy of Composition" which you did at 3:39. "First Principles" in isolation does not account for emergence and thus can lead to false assumptions. You can not assume that the whole will be good if the parts are good as the relationships between the parts may change as the system grows. New traits and characteristics may emerge during this growth as well. Let's use your essay example to illustrate this: One may perfect their usage of letters, words, sentences, and paragraphs, but if they don't understand how these pieces relate to each other within the overarching emergent structure of the essay, it will most likely end up a mess. However, It will have a much higher chance of being good than an essay constructed by someone who did not possess this first principle knowledge.
You were born in the right generation if UA-cam have helped solve your biggest problems
man, your channel is really fantastic! keep up the great work! 💪 im so glad to see that im not the only one who makes videos about these kind of topics!
The interesting man isn't the one with all the facts, but all the applications. Facts can be found as necessary, especially when working from first principles. Worth mentioning here that the first principle of thought is only the root of any idea or concept, the rest is blossoming the idea into a beautiful tree, creativitity is true brilliance.
This is true in most areas, except for when it comes to Emergence in systems - where new traits and truths emerge out of systems that are not true for its individual parts.
An ant colony is a highly organized and intelligent organism, but an individual ant can get lost for days if it loses a scent trail to follow.
Our personalities are incredibly integrated into a single self-driven identity, but the building blocks of them are randomly firing neurons.
Could you tell me more about firing neurons that affect your personality?
@@pchu760 Yeah sure, I'm not a neuroscientist, so if someone knows the actual science here, feel free to correct me.
But from my understanding, our brains work by neurons firing electric / chemical impulses at eachother, over time creating bridges between them for more effective connections - we call these neural pathways. These pathways pass all the emotional, logical, subconscious, sensory, information about everything around our mind.
As we experience the world and do things, we get positive or negative responses from the world around us - which reinforce these neural pathways, or weaken them. Gradually we learn what works for us.
Now this all sounds very mechanistic, like a simple robot - and it's true, we are a lot more complex than that.
But these neuron systems don't only exist in our brain. They exist in our Central Nervous System down our spines, and possibly through other systems in our body too.
Now these neurons don't have personality, or conscious decision making themselves. But put them together, and they form systems like the brain, and the central nervous system. Put those systems together, and gradually the different dimensions of being a feeling and thinking human emerge.
One of the big debates in philosophy is that: if we are just these moving parts, then how can we have free will?
I don't have hard evidence, but my current understanding is that we are an emergent system - that is not only we are the sum of our parts, but self-awareness, our personalities, the things that give a sense of control of ourselves - those are all emergent qualities that exist in the system as a whole, but not in its individual parts.
By the way, if you're interested Kurzgesagt did a great short vid on Emergence: ua-cam.com/video/16W7c0mb-rE/v-deo.html
@@johnoestmannmusic You applied first principle thinking in your explanation. Impressive! Thanks for your response!
I understand your head comment now. Never heard of emergence before, but it's really interesting.
Excellent :
The right way of reason and science.
It starts with a good, "Thought Experiment".
Who came here after watching Elon Musk?
Me
…
Bro how did you know that? 😂😂😂
@@bloodeagle2445 Because I came here the same way.
Lucas
Interestingly, the term 'radical' is based on 'cutting back to the root'.
Common uses such as "relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough" (radical restructuring) or "forming an inherent or fundamental part of the nature of someone or something" (the radical difference between two positions), and even the political "advocating or based on thorough or complete political or social change" are all derived from the Latin "radicalis" (root) in basically the way you outline first principles here, with the same metaphor.
Strange that agents of chaos are always termed "radicals".
The video is really good, but i would go further and say that this kind of thinking is usefull not just to earn power, but for the everyday life as well
Thank you this video helped me so much. I couldnt even think anymore and i was just wondering what went wrong with the way i was normally thinking why cant i go back to thinking back like that. This video brought me back
What is the title to the next video on "The Dangers of Being a First Principle Thinker"
Thank you for calling yourself out as an essay. Every video like this just makes me think that it's just some guy reading an essay in front of the class
UPDATE: My results came out today. GUYS I GOT 9A*S 😭😭 thank you lorddd THANK YOU!!!
guys
i am worried
i am so so so worried
i have my gcses in 2 months
and mocks before that so actually i have only 1 month left to prepare
the thing is, i do get the highest grade in my class
but i didnt really study consistently and only by studying in the last days before an exam i got those good grades
but i know for gcses i have to work really really hard, i am aiming for A*. But you know, i waste so much time because i am so used to studying only in the last days. It's like i can't study until i am under serious pressure. I've tried studying, but i always end up achieving nothing. I can't achieve the goals i set for myself, and i dont want to study in the last days for gcses, i want to give them my absolute best.
I am facing so much stress and anxiety, i really want to study but i can't
pls anyone help me
Hey 👋 take a deep breath. Have you seen my video on focus? I would start small. Just do one pomodoro a day starting today (only 30 minutes of work). If you feel like working on then just keep working. But, if you don’t then stop. People who procrastinate often have trouble just getting started. Schedule at least 30 minutes of work every morning from now on and stick to that schedule. See how you feel after the first 30 min, you’ll most likely just keep working after
ButAHumbleKnight Yes you are right, phewww, i just need to calm down. I can do this! Thank you btw, you don't know how much words like these relax me. :)))
Freedom in Thought Yes, i feel like focus definitely is my weak point. Thank you sooo much. phewww. Yes i can do this! :)))
ayesha siddiqa don't worry too much, you can do it! I'm gonna tell you now though, your GCSE'S are nothing compared to A levels, so choose your subjects wisely
Hey Ayesha! Best of luck with your GCSEs, I came out badly but got 4 A*s at A Level. Please, if you like using mind maps to revise then reply as I have a great method for memorising information relatively quickly, that also works with the Pomodoro method :)
Great Video and concept.. If I may say.. First principle is like start people from what they know to the unknown which eventually brings everyone to the final knowing
All new learning requires a foundation of prior knowledge
Which means first principle thinking applies because when you get down to all of the elements (even deep to quantum level) you'll begin to see how all things work. Like Elon mentioned, it's going to be hard work, but it's the most efficient way. So Honda said "timing is everything", watch the time, and see how much detail we can crunch into our understanding of the "world".
Which implies that we either know nothing or we are born with some knowledge already in our minds..
Yeah we use these in Physics constantly! Very important fundamental of science and thinking in whole. Good video!
Edit: on second thought, organizing things into heirarchies is not the best way to describe how ideas are organized when using first principles, its more like creating a web of how information relates together. A heirarchy would limit yourself to reducing information to a narrow subset of perferred relations. I think starting with an Undirected Graph like people use in Graph Theory is a better tool, you can just place information next to each other based on emperically gleaned associations and add detail from there.
Great values on processing info!!!!!!!superb explaination
Thanks 🙏
Exceptional work! This needs to be a key part of our education... however it is currently not taught at all, and is root of a vast array of our problems.
Yay upload ♥️
*Thoughts* are the primary components of essays. It's the relationships between components that make an entity what it is. In fact, only relationships, or signals, can be said to exist.
This is really interesting; I've always been able to explain just about anything I know at a high(er) level to anyone on a more fundamental level no matter who they are, and I believe this principle is a reason why. I also believe this is something that you are born either better or worse at, like any other intuitive skills
I'm forever happy you gave it a name and put it in this _form_ thank you!
All the dislikes from second principle thinkers
How to think like a genius ?
1. What is true ?
2. What could possibly be true ?
3. Then I reason from de 1st principle.
The global theory of complex dimensions describes oscillations intrinsic to the geometry of adelic fractal strings via the explicit tube formula for the volume of tubular neighborhoods of an adelic fractal string as an infinite sum over the set of global complex fractal dimensions.
No wonder Aristotle has a problem with emergent qualities.
I think better understanding is planting the tree & learning to take care of it. Not just identifying. But living it
Video should be titled "How (Some) Interesting Thinkers Think"
'Powerful' is a misnomer, because it has been poorly defined. 'Powerful' inclines many of us to think of those who use Machiavellian principles and tend to see others as instruments to be used for our own goals. This does not mean that they are 'good' or even 'admirable' thinkers.
And I won't even get started on the problems of simply declaring what is 'true.'
Strachan Stoats this is a second video in a series. You should watch the first one, your issues are addressed there.
I immediately drew an analogy to what I am studying at the moment, chess. Trying to recreate a Master-level game when you don't yet know the language of chess would be like trying to write an original essay in a foreign language, before you are fluent in that language. You might be able to fool yourself into thinking you know enough after understanding a beautiful book in a foreign language, but then you would get frustrated at trying to write an essay yourself... you might even think it looks as beautiful, but a fluent speaker immediately sees all of its flaws, regardless of how good you think it is. The key to learning is humility, and conviction to study.
Your voice is so good
Hahaha thanks
Ever listen to Zack from JerryRigsEverything
+Freedom in Thought Yeah, you should of been a voice actor instead.
The first principle of an essay isn't the letters, its the core of the idea behind the thesis. The letters can change depending on the language but the core would be the same in any language.
That's all well and good until you get down to the quantum level
And things become less.... categorizable. More uncertain.
This isn't about understanding reality, this is about being able to manipulate others
@@alcosmic influence others*
Nope, you're wrong. You can deduce very little about the real world using logic alone (e.g. I think therefore I am, and a few other things about your own perception). You can't say that a thing will only be in one place at a given time from logic alone. You're starting with hidden assumptions. Logic always makes sense, it's simply whether you're mapping correctly to the logical constructs. If you say "it's wet outside therefore it rained" you're not correctly mapping reality to the IMPLIES construct (someone could have used a water hose). That's not logic's fault, that's yours.
for me quantum has to do with duality
The step between words and a sentence is a huge shift. You can "master" the level sentences and build correct sentences without saying anything significant.
Okay lets teach in a first principle way now!
First we learn about Particals
Then Proteins and sugars
DNA
Organelles in cells
Cells
Then we finally teach the kids what an apple is :)
@JamesonWhiskey810 We have to teach Greek philoshy, Latin sciptures and Shakespear before other books so they can discover the roots of the english in the books
@@ButterGamesRoblox lol, no you don't. You can just use a textbook that introduces the first principles of grammar, literature analysis, etc.
Applying Practical principal for Creating Systematic layered Knowledge maps for New Innovations , and Development, from Concrete Proving Concepts or a Way of Consolidating Complex unrelated and Abstract Ideas Ontologically .This Third Approach Could lead to A more Dynamic way of learning and finding Real life Structural Solutions for Complex Engineering problems ,Ex Reducing or Reverse engineering biological systems , to enzymes, DNA , Transcription, Chemical systems to Physical and Quantum representation , Computer systems to Binary and Mathematical inductive Approach ,Ex.Algorithms and Data Structure, user interface
Applying Practical principal for Creating Systematic layered Knowledge maps for New Innovations , and Development, from Concrete Proving Concepts or a Way of Consolidating Complex unrelated and Abstract Ideas Ontologically .This Third Approach Could lead to A more Dynamic way of learning and finding Real life Structural Solutions for Complex Engineering problems ,Ex Reducing or Reverse engineering biological systems , to enzymes, DNA , Transcription, Chemical systems to Physical and Quantum representation , Computer systems to Binary and Mathematical inductive Approach ,Ex.Algorithms and Data Structure, user interface
In old knowledge they had it simply stated and discovered as “That which is below is like that which is above , and that which is above is like that which is below “.
At 3:40 you claim “If the parts are good and true the whole will be good and true.” While I dont disagree with your overall argument, this is a logical fallacy.
By far the best video I have ever watched on the topic