How Old Is Old Enough Analysis

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What is the age most people become responsible? What does the the word responsible even mean? The definition of, responsibility according to “Dictionary.com” is “the state or fact of being accountable or to blame for something”. All that means is that you are able to take accountability for your actions, good or bad, and have to deal with the consequences. Once you have the ability to own up to your actions, is when you are able to be called responsible. So that is why the age at which people become responsible should be around 18 years old. In the article “How old is old enough?” by Catherine Rampell, “18-the age when the United States, and the rest of the world, considers young people capable of accepting responsibility for their actions.” This states that everyone including the U.S. …show more content…

I see their point in that not all 18 year olds are mature, but you can be responsible without being mature. Also some might disagree because the brain’s prefrontal cortex isn’t fully developed until the age 25. The prefrontal cortex helps with decision making. I can’t disagree with science, but just because your decision making skills aren't fully developed, they are developed enough to be accountable for their actions. So even though not all 18 year olds are mature or fully developed they still are able to make the right decision. All the evidence shows that most people become responsible at the age 18. Like in Alan Greenblatt’s “What is the age of responsibility?” tells us how even bad guys are treated like responsible adults at the age 18. Also in Catherine Rampell’s “How old is old enough?” states that the whole world believes 18 is generally the age people become responsible. She also says that 18 year olds were able to vote because of their responsibilities they had on the battlefield. Looking at this I believe that 18 years old is the age at which people become responsible for their

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