a doctrine and/or narrative account of first causes, particularly in the case of creation myths/stories that provide narrative accounts of the raison d'etre of all that is See also Teleology
The study of the causes or origins of behavior Positivist approaches to criminology are characterized by their interest in determining the etiology of criminal behavior
The etiology of a disease or a problem is the study of its causes. the etiology of psychiatric disorder. the cause of a disease or the scientific study of this (aetiologia, from aitia )