Elon Musk on First Principles
blog.microlancer.com
Elon Musk on First Principles
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Re: Elon Musk on First Principles
#2I've been waiting for someone to put a name to this kind of thinking.
Re: Elon Musk on First Principles
#3A similar theme, but on game design, can be found here:
http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1013804/MUD-Messrs-Bartle-and-T...
Re: Elon Musk on First Principles
#4I'm a big fan of reasoning from first principles, but in practice it tends to work out more like 'total honesty' does with your spouse. Which is to say, not always all that great.
I tend to be a reasoned sort of guy, this doesn't mean I don't say stupid things, I do, but when called on those things I can tell you how I reasoned to them and you can help me see the error in my reasoning. When someone can't reason from such a basis, and they are insisting on some plan or assertion based on their 'gut' I find it very hard to accept that as acceptable. When they won't even talk about how one might reason to the point, I find it unacceptable.
Some people are very invested in being "right" and letting them know they may not be right is taken as an attack on their person rather than their reasoning. One of the smartest guys I met at Google had this issue. You could do ok with the Socratic Method (asking questions that might lead them to understand where they were mistaken) but even that was dangerous if done in a group context (since the audience could figure out they were wrong before they could come up with a rationale). When someone works with me to explain their reasoning I really appreciate and respect them for that.
Re: Elon Musk on First Principles
#5"Reasoning from first principles: What’s the least information I need to collect from the user to make the app functional?"
Functional web apps do not need any user information.
People should be able to use the app without having to submit any contact details. An account is created for them automatically, and, presuming they like the app, they can provide contact details later.
Similarly, most apps do not require passwords at all. E-mail authentication provides a better security layer than forcing users to pick yet another (insecure) password.
The algorithm for using the site becomes:
1. System creates an account with a unique account ID if the user has no site cookie.
2. User, upon being impressed, provides e-mail and name.
3. User can sign in later using their e-mail address.
4. User receives an e-mail with a login link to click.
Most users these days will already have their e-mail application open (be it Outlook, GMail, etc.), so leveraging all the work that has gone into making e-mail secure is a win.
Re: Elon Musk on First Principles
#6"Reasoning from first principles: What’s the least information I need to collect from the user to make the app functional?" Functional web apps do not need any user information. People should be able to use the app without having to submit any contact details. An account is created for them automatically, and, presuming they like the app, they can provide contact details later. Similarly, most apps do not require pas…
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Re: Elon Musk on First Principles
#7Did you really have to come up with a name for it: "reasoning from first principles"? Does it not bother anyone else that this is just "thinking"? I mean, if you can deal with the cost of re-engineering the battery, then why not? Is this not common sense?
Re: Elon Musk on First Principles
#8Musk's thoughts are a great read -- thanks for sharing this.
Much innovation lies at the intersection of a mindset existing in possibilities, fuelled by creativity and ignoring what has, or hasn't been done before and really cut to the root of why people desire something or have a particular need.
Re: Elon Musk on First Principles
#9Did you really have to come up with a name for it: "reasoning from first principles"? Does it not bother anyone else that this is just "thinking"? I mean, if you can deal with the cost of re-engineering the battery, then why not? Is this not common sense?
Reasoning by analogy is also "thinking". What's wrong with giving different names to different ways of approaching a problem?
Re: Elon Musk on First Principles
#10Did you really have to come up with a name for it: "reasoning from first principles"? Does it not bother anyone else that this is just "thinking"? I mean, if you can deal with the cost of re-engineering the battery, then why not? Is this not common sense?
And Test driven development is really just "Development"... why did they need to make a name for that?
I think what Musk is trying to do here is provide structure, and intention to the WAY he thinks.