US boy appeals prison sentence imposed at age 12

[LanternWaste]

31. What is the precise degree of its wrong-ness and on what objective measure is that based?

What is the precise degree of its wrong-ness and on what objective measure is that based?

For we all know there are degree of a thing being right or wring, yes? And if we accept that premise, we may easily rationalize a 12 year old realizing that eating one too many candy bars on Halloween is "wrong", but lack the mental structures to define a real consequence from that. But we would not punish that child.

Therefore, there are degrees of evil that a child should know, and degrees of realization of consequence that same child should know, and if that is indeed, the case, what then is the objective measure?


At twelve and thirteen, I was still a junior world explorer in my own back yard, discovered snakes, frogs, etc., and did things with them that would horrify me as an adult-- the point being, you and I cannot project our own knowledge, experience, and wisdom onto the twelve year old version of ourselves-- it's an exercise in futility