Step-Back

Source: hooks/ways/meta/think/strategies/step-back.md

Signature

keywords: stuck step-back general principle abstract first-principles why fundamentally bigger-picture zoom-out

Stages

1. Problem Reception

State the specific problem you're stuck on. What have you tried? Where did it break down?

2. Abstraction

Step back: "What general principle or pattern governs this kind of problem?" Don't think about the specific code or system — think about the category of problem.

3. Principle Articulation

State the principle clearly. Give 1-2 examples from other domains where the same principle applies. If you can't articulate a clear principle, you haven't abstracted enough — go broader.

4. Specific Application

Apply the principle back to the original problem. The principle should suggest an approach that wasn't visible from the specifics alone.

5. Verification

Does the specific solution actually follow from the principle? Test it: if the principle is correct, what else should be true? Check those predictions.