First Principles

In the 1991 best picture The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal “the Cannibal” Lecter chides aspiring FBI agent Clarice Starling: “First principles, Clarice. Simplicity. Read Marcus Aurelius. Of each particular thing ask: what is it in itself? What is its nature? What does he do, this man you seek?” Lecter scolds Clarice for not understanding the teachings of stoic philosophy and the work of Marcus Aurelius—a Roman emperor from 161 AD to 180 AD. First principles thinking teaches breaking down problems into the most basic elements. Looking at problems from different angles. Avoiding bias. Asking what makes up the problem, what patterns exist. Good detectives solve cases this way. And good statisticians practice first principles too.