How can students improve learning efficiency through first principles?

Hello, I'm delighted to discuss this topic with you. Learning with "first principles" might sound profound, but simply put, it's about not just copying homework, but understanding how the homework itself is done. It's a powerful way of thinking that transforms you from rote memorization to genuine understanding.

Let me give you an analogy:

Imagine learning is like learning to cook.

Most people's learning method is "analogical thinking," which means "following a recipe." The recipe says three grams of salt, five grams of sugar, and you follow it. You might be able to replicate a decent dish, but if you lose the recipe, or are asked to create an innovative dish with different ingredients, you might be stumped. You're just imitating, without knowing why you're doing it.

However, the "first principles" learning method is about "understanding the essence of cooking." You wouldn't start by memorizing recipes. Instead, you'd research: What's the role of salt (flavor enhancement, dehydration)? What's the role of sugar (seasoning, coloring)? What different effects does oil temperature have? How does the heat level affect texture?…

Once you grasp these most basic, core "principles," you're no longer dependent on recipes. You can freely combine any ingredients you have to create your own dishes, perhaps even tastier than those from a recipe. You become a chef, not just a recipe repeater.

So, how can students specifically apply this "chef's mindset" to their learning? It can be broken down into three steps:

Step 1: Deconstruct Knowledge, Find the "Basic Ingredients"

When encountering a new piece of knowledge, don't rush to swallow it whole. First, like disassembling LEGOs, break it down into its smallest, most fundamental components. Ask yourself: "What are the core, unshakeable foundations of this subject/concept?"

• For Physics: Don't immediately memorize all formulas. Think about the most basic concepts. These might be "force, mass, acceleration, conservation of energy." Newton's laws and the law of conservation of energy are the cornerstones of the physics edifice.
• For Economics: The core might be "supply and demand," "scarcity," "marginal utility." Almost all complex economic models are built upon these fundamental principles.
• For History: Don't just memorize "something happened on a certain date." Instead, think about the fundamental drivers of historical development. These might be "geographical location, resource distribution, technological change, human greed and cooperation."

Step 2: Question and Scrutinize, Verify the Authenticity of the "Ingredients"

Once you've found these "basic ingredients," don't easily believe them. Cross-examine them like a detective.

• "Why is this axiom true?"
• "Is this definition absolute? Are there any exceptions?"
• "What would happen to the entire knowledge system if this foundation were removed?"

This process can be a bit painful, as you'll have to keep digging until you reach an "axiom" or "fact" that you can no longer refute or question "why." For example, in mathematics, you might keep asking until you reach self-evident truths like "1=1." This process ensures your knowledge foundation is absolutely solid.

Step 3: Starting from the "Ingredients," Rebuild Your "Knowledge Edifice"

Now you have a collection of verified, purest "basic ingredients." Next, try to reassemble them using your own logic and see if you can derive those complex concepts or formulas you previously had to memorize by rote.

• For Physics: Starting from the basic concepts of "force, mass, acceleration," can you derive the conservation of momentum or more complex physical phenomena yourself?
• For Programming: Once you understand the most basic elements like "variables, loops, conditional statements," you'll be able to understand and write any complex program, rather than just memorizing specific code snippets.

What are the benefits of doing this? Why does it improve efficiency?

1. Exponential Decrease in Memorization Load: You no longer need to remember 100 scattered facts; you only need to remember 5 core principles. The remaining 95 can all be derived from these 5. This significantly reduces the burden on your brain.
2. Deeper Understanding: Knowledge in your mind is no longer isolated points but an interconnected logical network. You know "what" it is, and more importantly, "why" it is. This kind of understanding cannot be taken away from you.
3. Massive Increase in Knowledge Transferability: Because you've mastered the most fundamental laws, when you encounter a brand new, unfamiliar problem, you can analyze and solve it from first principles. This is true "learning by doing" and innovative capability.

In a nutshell:

Don't just be a "knowledge porter"; be a "knowledge architect." Initially, "laying the foundation" (Steps 1 and 2) will be slower and more tiring. But once the foundation is solid, your speed and height in building (learning efficiency and depth) will far surpass those who only "stack bricks."