Who founded the first principles?

The concept of "first principles" can be traced back to ancient philosophers, particularly Aristotle, who emphasized the importance of fundamental truths as the basis for knowledge and reasoning. In modern contexts, figures like René Descartes and later thinkers such as Elon Musk have popularized the idea of breaking problems down to their most basic components to facilitate innovation and problem-solving. Thus, while Aristotle is often credited with foundational ideas, the application of first principles has evolved through various thinkers over time.