Progress Report 07/16/2007

I started this journal to keep track of my progress on a number of fronts.

Again, I regret that I must report that I have not made as much progress as I have liked.

I continued to post one post per day on the Atheist Ethicist blog. That is my minimum standard. Sometimes, I do not accomplish even that much. However, so far this year, I have posted every day but one. That is a better record than on any other year. Then again, this is only the third calendar year - and the second full calendar year - in which posts exist.

I have made progress on the Scrap Wiki for Desire Utilitarianism. I am adding a page on J.L. Mackie's Error Theory - explaining what it is and how desire utilitarianism can defend moral realism while agreeing with Mackie on the issue of 'objective values'.

On the book criticizing intelligent design for 12 to 14 year olds, I wrote to PZ Myers at Pharyngula last week for information on material criticizing intelligent design for this age group. He put my request on his blog, which generated a number of useful leads in the comments. Many of the comments focused on books on evolution fit for this age group, but that is not what I am interested in. I am interested in books or other materials critical of intelligent design. It does look like there is a need for such a project. However, now I am curious as to whether somebody who is more skilled than I am on these matters might have seen the request and started his or her own version of the project. Nonetheless, I continue to make contributions, from time to time.

I have received a request from a reader for permission to use his or her influence to get me on a podcast. I'm not going to offer any details here, but I certainly would be pleased for an opportunity to present my work to others. I am considering the possibility of adding a line on the family budget next year for air travel to certain atheist events.

That's it for this week. Next week, I hope to do more of the same, only more of it. I'll let you know how I do.