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About this quote

What does it mean?
Hitchens distinguishes between Irving's personal ideology and his historical skill.
In plain terms
Irving is a fascist but still a good historian of fascism.
What can you take from it?
Separate a person's views from their professional skill.

Where it applies

  • academic review
  • historical debate
  • criticism

Putting it to work

  • evaluating controversial scholars
  • assessing historical work

Questions to consider

  • Can bad people produce good work?

Another view

Separating skill from ideology can be ethically complex.

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