You know in the animal kingdom a parent lets go of their child after they taught them how to survive and are fully grown, rather than going by the number of birthdays their young has had. So why not us humans just do a similar method? When someone completes secondary education and puberty why not consider them adults? Thoughts?
Usually the completion of secondary school is around 18 years of age, is it not? Aren't 18 year olds deemed adults?
I finished secondary school at 19 and I have a friend who finished the same year at 17. There are people who have finished much earlier or later. Don't think I should have been considered an at adult while still in my junior year in highschool. Don't see the point in going by birthdays
I suppose adulthood is really a thing of being mature both in the physical and mental level. But just going by years -faulty as it is because people mature faster and slower- is easier and more convinient than having tests on everyone to see if they're mature.
I know the reason why we use ages. But emancipation upon the completion of both secondary school and puberty doesn't that much more difficult.
Probably because we have had some extremely intelligent people finish the standard curriculum at very young ages and move into post-secondary educations long before their maturity level would really support rational real-life decision making. For the majority such a measurement may be fairly accurate, but as most rules do, it probably is there to protect the very few who aren't of similar age by the completion of their education. Plus, not all people choose to finish their education and drop out at an earlier age. Using a number/age probably just makes it easier to be non-subjective, even though there are flaws in doing so.
Educated and fertile does not mean they are mature. Of course neither does age, but we needed some way to protect those that cannot protect themselves.
I know, that's why I also brought up the completion of physical growth(aka, puberty) as being another factor in emancipation of parental control along with it. This usual happens at around 15-16 and it's also linked to IQ maturity. As for dropping out, I don't think we should allow people to do that. Puberty isn't just about being fertile as noted above and spoke upon it completion.
My first thought is; Define "completes puberty" in a manner that can be measured in a clear and simple way? A wider thought would be what's the point? What problems are you seeking to resolve and how do you see this having a different result compared to using a chronological age basis.
Humans are born in a very early stage and their long years before adulthood create very strong bonds between parents and offspring . The human brain matures after more than 20 years , this is the more than the average lifespan of most mammals .
I disagree with the OP. The reason is because there needs to be a standard age of majority for things such as drinking alcohol and such. Science clearly tells us that a child is not fully out of puberty until at least the age of 18. To be honest with you, I think the age of majority should be raised to 21 because it is a proven fact that boys are often not fully adults until the age of 20 or 21.
On the reverse side of that some people never mature and if there was no age of majority a case could be made that some people will never be ready. Additionally how would this system work for those that do not get very far in school?
For those who never reach maturity then they would still be considered legally unable to consent to things like drinking alcohol, sex, and such. As for those who don't get very far in school, I don't know. I would say it is fine that they be legally considered adults so long as they are determined to be able to consent.
