Pico's Theology of Human Dignity

Manetti relies throughout on Aristotle's picture of living beings as always having an orientation towards certain ends or purposes, which their bodies and souls are apt to pursue. He does think that Christianity has supplanted pagan notions of our ultimate end, which is properly understood to be worship and knowledge of God. As both a humanist and a Christian, Manetti dares to take exception with Pope Inescence's more pessimistic assessment of the human condition.