Deriving from first principles is always correct but much harder.
But theoretically it’s possible for someone to be an expert in nothing, except the basic fundamental principles of electromagnetism, the weak and strong nuclear force, gravity, etc..., and derive everything in logical sequence from vibrating electrons on up.
Though this definitely would require a very unusual amount of competence.
For a real world complex software program, like Excel, figuring this out would be worthy of a nobel prize.
Deriving from first principles is always correct but much harder.
But theoretically it’s possible for someone to be an expert in nothing, except the basic fundamental principles of electromagnetism, the weak and strong nuclear force, gravity, etc..., and derive everything in logical sequence from vibrating electrons on up.
Though this definitely would require a very unusual amount of competence.
For a real world complex software program, like Excel, figuring this out would be worthy of a nobel prize.