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Wikipedia: >An adult is an animal that has reached full growth. The biological definition of adult is an organism that has reached sexual maturity and thus cap

Wikipedia: >An adult is an animal that has reached full growth. The biological definition of adult is an organism that has reached sexual maturity and thus capable of reproduction. >In the human context, the term adult has meanings associated with social and legal concepts. In contrast to a non-adult or "minor", a legal adult is a person who has attained the age of majority and is therefore regarded as independent, self-sufficient, and responsible. They may also be regarded as "majors". The typical age of attaining adulthood for humans is 18 years, although definition may vary by country. Merriam-Webster: >(adjective) fully developed and mature >(noun) one that is adult; especially: a human being after an age (such as 21) specified by law Your definition of "adult" is one no one uses. >Past generations considered this character the bedrock that adult behavior rested upon. Even if I grant that that's true, why should I care? Past generations killed infants in fields to benefit crops, and captured survivors of battles to enslave them. Appeals to tradition are uncompelling.

forgetfreeman 1y ago
Appeals to tradition are only uncompelling if the tradition in question is problematic. Otherwise you end up in a situation where provably successful strategies are jettisoned for no reason beyond their age.
- fluoridation 1y ago
  >Otherwise you end up in a situation where provably successful strategies are jettisoned for no reason beyond their age. "Otherwise"? Uh, no. Let's appeal to neither tradition nor to novelty. Let's instead judge things on their own merits. But that's totally irrelevant, because the definition of a word is a neutral fact; it's neither good nor bad, it just is. You just tried to appeal to tradition to bring legitimacy to your made-up nonsense. I insist: Even if it was true that past cultures defined "adult" the way you do (which I don't grant), that's not the modern meaning.

forgetfreeman 1y ago

Appeals to tradition are only uncompelling if the tradition in question is problematic. Otherwise you end up in a situation where provably successful strategies are jettisoned for no reason beyond their age.

fluoridation 1y ago
>Otherwise you end up in a situation where provably successful strategies are jettisoned for no reason beyond their age. "Otherwise"? Uh, no. Let's appeal to neither tradition nor to novelty. Let's instead judge things on their own merits. But that's totally irrelevant, because the definition of a word is a neutral fact; it's neither good nor bad, it just is. You just tried to appeal to tradition to bring legitimacy to your made-up nonsense. I insist: Even if it was true that past cultures defined "adult" the way you do (which I don't grant), that's not the modern meaning.