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Original research
Moral case for legal age change
  1. Joona Räsänen1,2
  1. 1 Department of Philosophy, Classics, History of Art and Ideas, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
  2. 2 Department of Management Studies, Aalto University School of Business, Helsinki, Finland
  1. Correspondence to Joona Räsänen, Department of Philosophy, Classics, History of Art and Ideas, University of Oslo, Box 1020 Blindern, Oslo 0315, Norway; joona.rasanen{at}ifikk.uio.no

Abstract

Should a person who feels his legal age does not correspond with his experienced age be allowed to change his legal age? In this paper, I argue that in some cases people should be allowed to change their legal age. Such cases would be when: (1) the person genuinely feels his age differs significantly from his chronological age and (2) the person’s biological age is recognised to be significantly different from his chronological age and (3) age change would likely prevent, stop or reduce ageism, discrimination due to age, he would otherwise face. I also consider some objections against the view that people should be allowed to change their legal age and find them lacking.

  • ethics
  • public policy
  • minorities
  • social aspects
  • health care for specific diseases/groups

https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2018-105294

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors JR is the sole author of this paper.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Patient consent for publication Not required.

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