Can first principles thinking help students shift from 'memorizing answers' to 'understanding the root causes of problems'?

Absolutely, and one could argue it's one of its most crucial roles.

Let me explain with a simple analogy; you might find it easier to understand.

Learning by 'memorizing answers' is like rote memorizing a cookbook when you're learning to cook.

For instance, a recipe for 'Stir-fried Tomatoes with Eggs' might say: two eggs, one tomato, 5 grams of salt, stir-fry for 2 minutes. You've memorized it perfectly, and every 'exam' (making this dish) earns you full marks. But here's the problem:

1. What if you don't have tomatoes today, only cucumbers? You're stumped because the cookbook doesn't have a recipe for 'Stir-fried Cucumbers with Eggs'.
2. If an experienced chef asks you why the eggs should be stir-fried first, instead of being added directly to the pan with the tomatoes, you can't answer. That's because the recipe only tells you 'how to do it,' not 'why you do it'.
3. If you're asked to make 'Coke Chicken Wings,' you'd be completely lost, as that's from a different cookbook.

You see, this way of learning is very fragile; knowledge points are isolated, and they become useless in a different context.

Learning by 'first principles,' on the other hand, is like understanding the essence of cooking.

You no longer memorize specific recipes like 'Stir-fried Tomatoes with Eggs,' but instead grasp the most fundamental and core principles:

• Properties of ingredients: Eggs are protein and coagulate quickly at high temperatures; tomatoes are rich in juice and soften when heated; cucumbers are crisp and shouldn't be stir-fried for too long.
• Principles of cooking: What is the role of oil temperature? The act of 'stir-frying' is to ensure ingredients are heated evenly; what roles do seasonings like salt, sugar, and soy sauce play?
• Logic of combination: Why do some ingredients taste good together (e.g., balancing umami and sweet-sour flavors), while others don't?

Once you understand these most basic 'building blocks,' what happens?

1. No tomatoes, but you have cucumbers? No problem. Knowing the properties of eggs and cucumbers, you can naturally figure out how to make 'Stir-fried Cucumbers with Eggs' delicious, and even apply this knowledge to create 'Stir-fried Onions with Eggs' or 'Stir-fried Bell Peppers with Eggs'.
2. Someone asks you why you stir-fry the eggs first? You can explain: 'It allows the eggs to quickly set in hot oil, locking in their tender texture. If added with tomatoes, there's too much water, the oil temperature drops, and the eggs would become tough, turning into an eggy soup.'
3. Asked to make 'Coke Chicken Wings'? Even if you haven't made it before, you can deduce: chicken wings are meat, so they need to be treated to remove any gamey smell (e.g., blanching or using cooking wine); cola contains sugar, which thickens when heated and can be used for coloring and flavoring (similar to the principle of caramelization). While it might not be perfect on the first try, you now have a framework for solving unfamiliar problems.

So, back to learning:

First principles thinking means you stop memorizing 'solutions to application problems' (recipes) and instead question and understand the underlying formulas, definitions, and axioms (cooking principles).

• In physics, it's not about memorizing the steps to solve a problem like 'a cart sliding down a slope,' but about understanding fundamental laws like 'Newton's three laws' and 'conservation of energy.' This way, whether it's a cart, a ball, or any other object, whether on a slope, in the air, or on a flat surface, you can analyze and solve it using these foundational principles.
• In history, it's not about remembering 'event X happened in year Y,' but about understanding the geographical environment, economic foundations, social conflicts, and human desires that are the fundamental drivers of historical development. This allows you to understand why that event occurred at that specific time and place, and even to infer how history might have unfolded differently if certain conditions had changed.

In summary, first principles thinking is a 'master key.' It pushes you from 'knowing what' to 'knowing why,' connecting a seemingly disparate collection of knowledge points into a robust logical network. This process might feel a bit slow and tiring at first, as thinking requires more effort than memorizing. But once you get used to this way of thinking, your knowledge system will be incredibly solid, and you'll possess strong transfer and innovation capabilities, allowing you to confidently tackle all sorts of unfamiliar problems.

This is what it truly means to 'learn,' rather than just 'memorize.'