The human condition is a mystery. It seems that in varying degrees, across innumerable cultures, of any age, of any generation, there is a lingering gravitas within the rational will that inclines, or rather declines, towards the privation of good. It is most curious indeed, since it is evident, quite obvious even, that the entire potency of the entire collective human spectrum of faculties is, by definition, superior to all other natural things, and in of themselves good. Contingently, assuming this potentiality is in fact actualized by prudence, then it is through reason that the rational animal could bring all of reality into an ordered stewardship, by which other things come to reach their full potential too.
Yet, this is not the case, far from it. All one has to do is look around, and it is self-evident that something is very wrong, everywhere. What could be good, is privatively not. The tragedy of it all is that man seems to be completely helpless in uprooting this cumbersome gravitas that pulls him down to the Earth, towards base things. Likewise, any initiative to improve the situation by human reasoning alone, may start off right, but quickly becomes corrupted and goes off the rails in no time.
Despite this inclination to do what is not good, the act of the will is still completely free. Therefore, all things done that in privation of what is good, is thoroughly, and totally Man’s fault. Whether it is his fault for continuing this slippery slope, or the prior man who set the privation in motion, the fault is shared. Thus, it would seem reasonable to accept that Man is in need of a Savior from this condition of inevitable failure. Indeed, if Man is unable to will himself to the good of what could be, by his meagre power alone, then he is in need of a supernatural grace to get him there.
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
EAR