The hermeneutic circle, as described by Hans-Georg Gadamer is an iterative process in which we can understand the *whole* of reality by exploring its *details*, and in which this knowledge of the whole gives us better context to understand the details.
The Hermeneutic Circle: In order to fully grasp the whole, you need to understand the parts. We start with an existing perspective, experience, context and expectations that inform our understanding of the whole and the parts. Our understanding of the whole helps us understand the parts, which in turn helps us grasp the whole. Additionally, this process updates our perspective, experience, context, and expectations.
This process happens naturally, but we can also nurture the practice of understanding by contemplating the whole and the parts in turn.
Tools like The Block Model help us structure this conversation between the big picture and the details.