nomothetic

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

nomothetic
    adj 1: relating to or involving the search for abstract
           universal principles [ant: {idiographic}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Nomothetic \Nom`o*thet"ic\, Nomothetical \Nom`o*thet"ic*al\, a.
   [Gr. ?.]
   Legislative; enacting laws; as, a nomothetical power. [R.]
   --Bp. Barlow.
   [1913 Webster]