The principle of "proceeding from general to particular" is a core tenet of deductive reasoning and the deductive method of teaching.
Deductive Method: This method starts with a general rule, principle, or theory and then moves to specific examples or applications. The teacher first presents the rule (e.g., the formula for the area of a rectangle) and then gives students specific problems to solve using that rule. The learning process goes from a broad concept to its particular instances.