Final answer:
According to St. Augustine, sinfulness in babies can be seen through behaviors such as jealousy, crying and tantrums for attention, and inherent selfishness, all of which illustrate an innate flawed nature in humans that requires divine grace to overcome.
Step-by-step explanation:
St. Augustine theorized that sinfulness could be observed even in a baby, indicating that humans possess a flawed nature from birth, a consequence of the original sin from the Garden of Eden. Augustine's view suggests that there are at least 3 ways to observe sin in infancy:
- Jealousy - Augustine noted that babies can display jealousy, for instance, when another infant is being breastfed and they are not, showing a form of early covetous behavior.
- Crying and tantrums - He suggested that the disproportionate and often manipulative crying of babies for attention or other desires is a sign of sinful behavior.
- Selfishness - In Augustine's view, even a baby's innocent actions could be seen as selfish, as they seek their own satisfaction above all else.
These observations led Augustine to conclude that sin is inherent in human nature and that divine grace is required for salvation and the cultivation of good will.