Editing Self-reflection (section)

===Middle Ages===
The dominant world-view of medieval Europe, as directed by the [[Catholic Church]], was that human existence is essentially good and created in "original grace", but because of [[concupiscence]], is marred by [[sin]], and that its aim should be to focus on a beatific vision after [[death]]. The term "original grace" is not a phrase directly derived by the Bible, but is used because it reflects the Catholic Church's interpretation of humanity’s initial state before the Fall. According to St. Augustine, the Fall corrupted this "original grace" and therefore the nature of man. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-13 |title=Augustine’s teachings on human nature |url=https://alevelphilosophyandreligion.com/ocr-religious-studies/ocr-christianity/augustines-teachings-on-human-nature/#:~:text=Augustine%20claims%20that%20there%20is,contemplating%20the%20origin%20of%20sin. |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=A Level Philosophy & Religious Studies |language=en-US}}</ref>

The thirteenth century pope [[Pope Innocent III|Innocent III]] wrote about the essential misery of earthly existence in his "On the misery of the human condition"—a view that was disputed by, for example, [[Giannozzo Manetti]] in his treatise "On human dignity".{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}