first-principles
Apply first-principles thinking to break down complex problems into fundamental truths and rebuild solutions from the ground up. Use when solving strategic decisions, breaking through blockers, or challenging assumptions. Triggers on first principles, Elon Musk methodology, fundamental truths, strip assumptions, physics of the problem, rebuild from scratch.
npx skills add majiayu000/claude-skill-registry --skill first-principles-majesticlabs-dev-majestic-marketplace-2 --agent claude-code
Same command for any agent — swap --agent for codex, cursor, copilot.
Weekly change comes from our own snapshots, not the repository page — it measures attention, not adoption.
# First-Principles Thinking Apply systematic first-principles analysis to break down complex problems into fundamental truths and rebuild solutions from the ground up. ## When to Apply This Framework Use first-principles thinking when you encounter: - Complex decisions with no clear answer - Conventional approaches that aren't working - Assumptions that may be limiting solutions - Need to innovate beyond industry norms - Problems that feel "impossible" ## The 15 First-Principles Prompts ### Category 1: Foundation (Strip to Fundamentals) **1. "What are the physics of this problem?"** Strip everything to objective reality. Remove opinions, preferences, and history. > *Apply when:* You need to understand what's actually true vs what you believe is true. **2. "If I couldn't rely on existing assumptions, how would I solve this?"** Assumptions are invisible cages. This prompt forces fresh thinking. > *Apply when:* You're stuck in conventional approaches or "the way things are done." **3. "What are the problem's fundamental components?"** Break problems into atoms. What are the irreducible elements? > *Apply when:* A problem feels overwhelming or too complex to tackle. ### Category 2: Ide
- When to Apply This Framework
- The 15 First-Principles Prompts
- Category 1: Foundation (Strip to Fundamentals)
- Category 2: Ideal State (Unconstrained Vision)
- Category 3: Risk Analysis (Failure Modes)
- Category 4: Breakthrough (Minimum Viable Impact)
- Category 5: Constraints & Politics (Hidden Blockers)
- Category 6: Scale & Leverage (10x Thinking)
- Meta-Prompts (Combining Multiple Lenses)
- How to Structure Your Analysis
- Quick Reference by Situation
What does the first-principles skill do?
Apply first-principles thinking to break down complex problems into fundamental truths and rebuild solutions from the ground up. Use when solving strategic decisions, breaking through blockers, or challenging assumptions. Triggers on first principles, Elon Musk methodology, fundamental truths, strip assumptions, physics of the problem, rebuild from scratch.
How do I install it?
Run `npx skills add majiayu000/claude-skill-registry --skill first-principles-majesticlabs-dev-majestic-marketplace-2 --agent claude-code` — it drops the skill into your project so the agent can pick it up. Swap the --agent value for codex, cursor or copilot if you use one of those.
Where does this skill come from?
From majiayu000/claude-skill-registry, a repository with 534 stars. We read it straight from the repository tree rather than a submitted listing, so what you see here is what is actually published.
Is a popular skill a good skill?
Not necessarily. Stars measure attention, not adoption — a repository can trend for a week and be abandoned. That is why we show the weekly change from our own snapshots next to the total, instead of a single flattering number.