First principle

A first principle is a basic, foundational, self-evident proposition or assumption that cannot be deduced from any other proposition or assumption.

Description

In philosophy, first principles are taught by Aristotelians and a nuanced version of first principles are referred to as postulates by Kantians.

In mathematics, first principles are referred to as axioms and postulates.

In physics and other sciences, theoretical work is said to be from first principles, or ab initio, if it starts directly at the level of established science and does not make assumptions such as empirical model and fitting parameters.

See also

• Ab initio
• Axiom
• Brute fact
• First cause
• Intelligibility (philosophy)
• Law of non-contradiction
• Laws of thought
• Notion (philosophy)
• Primitive notion
• Principles

External links

• First principle @ Wikipedia