Thinking Frameworks – Rapid-Recall Deck
Five go-to reasoning tools. Flip each card to refresh when and why to deploy it.
1. Feynman Technique – core purpose?
Expose gaps in understanding by explaining the idea in simple language without notes.
2. Feynman – trigger cue?
You or the team feels fuzzy on how something really works.
3. First-Principles Decomposition – one-liner?
Strip the problem to physics/math/business invariants, then rebuild solutions from those non-negotiables.
4. Decision Tree / Causal Diagram – ideal use case?
Choosing among multiple options or tracing root causes in a complex system.
5. Analogical (Structure) Mapping – why reach for it?
When stuck, import a proven structure from another domain to spark novel designs.
6. Socratic Questioning – key benefit?
Surfaces hidden assumptions and prompts evidence-based thinking without antagonism.
7. Framework-selection mantra?
• Fuzzy? → Feynman
• Constrained by reality? → First Principles
• Too many branches or failures? → Decision/Causal
• Stalled creativity? → Analogical
• Groupthink or unclear premises? → Socratic