The phrase “linear thinking” is simple, a plain-vanilla notion suggesting that Cause A leads to Result B. As such, it’s rarely lauded in the pantheon of business wisdom.
But First Principles—those five words sparkle with intellectual mystique. The concept, which supposedly dates back to Aristotle, has found its modern champion in one of the world’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, Elon Musk. Consequently, it’s become a sacred text for legions of business leaders.
The principle encourages one to dismantle a complex problem, drilling down to the most fundamental truth, and then building the solution back up layer by layer from that bedrock. Yet, for all the elaborate steps and intellectual gymnastics involved, if you strip away the methodological ornamentation, the story remains the same: Cause A leads to Result B.
An eagle, however high it soars, is still a bird. The subtext of the First Principles approach is simple: Find the ultimate Cause A, and you will achieve your desired Result B. At its core, it is simply linear thinking.
The trouble is, the real world operates as a complex system. Systemic thinking recognizes that cause and effect are intertwined, cyclical, and inseparable. In many systems, the causal links are too intricate for human understanding. When we enter the labyrinth of a system armed only with linear thinking and a hunt for the ‘First Principle,’ we often emerge empty-handed. Even when we occasionally claim “success,” we’ve likely found only a temporary answer that, in the long run, will prove to be the wrong conclusion.
I don’t propose to dismiss First Principles entirely. It is not an absolute truth for innovation, but it is a useful technique in many contexts. However, like all methodologies, it has its flaws and its boundaries. Grasping this distinction is crucial: before applying First Principles, we must first determine if the problem is even suited for the method. We must also cultivate the discipline to assume our conclusions might be wrong or limited, and commit to diligent reflection and review. Only then do we truly open ourselves to genuine innovation.