On the publishing, you just said right there that the filter lies at the publisher level—not the author level. The more controversial, less useful books sell better. That I would agree with, but that’s not what you said earlier—you specifically addressed the authors’ motivations. Nothing you’ve said addresses that.
Authors respond to incentives like everyone else in the history of the world. But I was never talking about authors motivations: I was talking about the values illustrated by the atheist movement as can be seen from what the book market produces.
Neither of us even moved towards suggesting a conspiracy. Where did that come from?
I can’t understand what you disputable about my position so I was guessing at possible miscommunications.
“Outspoken atheists” is a much, much larger group than “atheist authors”, though authors are certainly a part of that group. But my argument is that the values of the former group are revealed in their book preferences. Obviously the case for any one author will be weaker- about as weak as the case for William Lane Craig not caring about converting people is (why can’t he just be telling the truth, works just as well for him).
Authors respond to incentives like everyone else in the history of the world. But I was never talking about authors motivations: I was talking about the values illustrated by the atheist movement as can be seen from what the book market produces.
I can’t understand what you disputable about my position so I was guessing at possible miscommunications.
vs
“Outspoken atheists” is a much, much larger group than “atheist authors”, though authors are certainly a part of that group. But my argument is that the values of the former group are revealed in their book preferences. Obviously the case for any one author will be weaker- about as weak as the case for William Lane Craig not caring about converting people is (why can’t he just be telling the truth, works just as well for him).