First Principles Thinking

First Principles Thinking (Aristotle, c. 350 BCE) – a problem-solving method that involves breaking down complex ideas into their most basic, foundational truths – and reasoning up from there. Instead of relying on assumptions or analogies, you ask: “What do I know for sure?” and rebuild your understanding from scratch. (Aristotle used First Principles Thinking defined “first principles” as the fundamental starting points for all Knowledge.)

Please cite this article as:
Davis, B., & Francis, K. (2025). “First Principles Thinking” in Discourses on Learning in Education. https://learningdiscourses.com.