Aetiology (Noun)
Meaning 1
The cause of a disease.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural events.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
The philosophical study of causation.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The ancient Greeks were pioneers in the field of aetiology, seeking to understand the underlying causes of natural phenomena.
- The concept of aetiology is central to philosophical discussions of free will and moral responsibility.
- Determinists argue that human behavior has a clear aetiology, shaped by prior causes and determinable by scientific inquiry.
- Kant's Critique of Pure Reason includes a section on the aetiology of human knowledge, examining how our understanding of the world arises from experience and cognition.
- Philosophers working in the field of aetiology must consider the complex interplay between efficient and formal causes, as well as the role of chance and indeterminacy.