Why did Pico della Mirandola emphasize human freedom and self-creation?

In his influential work De hominis dignitate oratio (1486), Giovanni Pico della Mirandola emphasized human freedom and self-creation as a core expression of human dignity.12

Pico argued that unlike other creatures, which were assigned a fixed nature and set limits by God, humanity was created without a predetermined character. This unique status granted humans the radical freedom to determine their own level of existence and shape their own future. By asserting that no aspiration—not even divinity itself—was forbidden to human potential, Pico championed the idea that individuals possess the autonomy to define their own essence through their choices and intellectual pursuits.2

This perspective marked a significant shift in Renaissance thought, moving away from the early humanists' focus on moderation toward a more heroic, expansive view of human capacity and the individual's ability to transcend traditional boundaries.2