“Thinking is the hardest work there is, which probably the
reason so few (people) engage in it.”—Henry Ford
The power of
thought has been demonstrated again and again throughout human history. And now,
it is being demonstrated more impressively in the present era of technological revolution,
unlike what the past millennia of humankind had ever witnessed.
In this article, we want to
explore the power of independent thought, and how we can learn to improve our personal
thinking ability to create practical solutions to everyday problems.
By independent thought, I
mean the use of our minds for sensible reflection to form an idea, propose a
solution, and make a judgment that is based on sound reason and solid evidence
as opposed to mere opinions based on emotions or prejudices. This may be simple enough to define but it can be
quite difficult to see in practice. And that explains why there are very few original
thinkers in the world.
Thinking up an
inventive solution to a puzzling problem takes a great deal of mental effort.
It requires forming hypothesis, generating questions, and sticking to the
questions until the most practical answer to the problem is reached.
Be that as it may,
it is within our capacity, if we are willing to try. So, let’s move on to how
we can learn to think for ourselves, using an essential tool of the first
principles.
Independent Thought and the
First Principles
First Principles’
thinking is perhaps best way to think for oneself. It is an independent but powerful way
of thinking and problem solving that can unleash creative possibilities from the
foundational truths of the issues at hand.
First principle
is said to be ‘the first basis for which a thing is known.’ This mode of
thought doesn’t start with guesses. Rather, it starts with
certainty; what is clear, what is known, and what has been proven.
To apply this
principle in real life, write down the complex problem on paper. And the next thing
is to break it down into its most elementary parts.
And to do this well,
you will need a good application of the right questions to get to the core of the
puzzle. For example: “Regarding this dilemma, what one thing am I absolutely
sure of?” Then, apply your mental energies to generate creative possibilities
from there, with the help of new, relevant questions.
This is the tool
that enabled Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX to cut through the haze of superficial analysis,
and uncovered hidden opportunities that others missed. It is a potent way of
thinking that you can use to reconstruct complicated problems into imaginative
possibilities.
Finally, to
develop innovative solutions to complex problems, you have to think constructively,
you have to think differently, but most importantly, you have to think for yourself.
