Could 'pseudo first principles' emerge? How to identify them?

Absolutely, and this situation is very common in both life and work.

Simply put, a "pseudo first principle" is an "assumption" disguised as a "fundamental truth." We might think it's the bedrock of our thinking, but if we dig a layer deeper, we'll find it's just a relatively large brick laid by our predecessors. Beneath that brick lies an even deeper, more solid foundation that we haven't seen. It appears to be fundamental, but in reality, it's merely an "optimal solution" or "habit" from a specific era or environment.

Take a simple example: You want to bake a cake, and someone might tell you: "You must use an oven to bake a cake." This sounds like an unbreakable rule, like a first principle. But let's delve deeper: What is the essence of a cake? It's using heat to coagulate proteins and gelatinize starches in the batter, causing it to expand and set. Therefore, "requiring stable and even heating" is the more fundamental principle. "You must use an oven" is a pseudo first principle. Because an oven is just a common tool to achieve the goal of "stable and even heating." You can perfectly well use an air fryer, or even a steamer (to make a steamed cake), and still achieve the objective. Confusing the tool with the principle creates a "pseudo first principle."

So, how do we identify them? Here are a few effective methods:

1. Ask "why?" relentlessly, like a child. This is the most classic and effective method. For something you consider an "axiom," ask "why?" five times in a row and see where it leads.

• If the ultimate answer points to a physical law (like gravity), a mathematical axiom, or a fundamental human need (like the need for security or food), then it's very likely a true first principle.
• But if, after all the "whys," the answers are "that's how everyone does it," "it's industry practice," "so-and-so expert said so," or "it's always been this way," then you should be very wary. You've likely found a "pseudo first principle." It's just a popular approach, not the essence of the matter.

2. Examine "taken-for-granted" rules and restrictions. When you hear absolute terms like "must," "definitely," "impossible," or "don't even think about it," take a moment to consider:

• Is this limitation truly physically or logically impossible, or is it just "no one has done it yet" or "it's too troublesome"?
• Is this "must" condition aimed at solving a fundamental problem, or is it merely to follow a certain process or habit?

For example, people once thought "cars must run on gasoline," which was a pseudo first principle. Someone challenged this, asking why, and discovered the essence was "the need for an energy source to power the wheels," leading to the invention of electric vehicles.

3. Deconstruct "conclusions" back into "assumptions." Often, the "common sense" we encounter is actually a conclusion. Try to break it down and see what assumptions it relies on. For instance, the "common sense" notion that "you can only develop your career by working in a big city." The assumptions behind it might include:

• Assumption 1: Development = promotions and salary increases.
• Assumption 2: Good companies are concentrated in big cities.
• Assumption 3: Remote collaboration is inefficient. Today, many of these assumptions no longer hold true. When you identify and examine these assumptions one by one, this "pseudo first principle" naturally falls apart.

In summary, the key to identification is to maintain a spirit of persistent inquiry and curiosity, daring to challenge common sense, and deconstructing ready-made answers given by others back to their original form to see if they truly hold up.