Abstract

In Germany the voices calling for a critical discussion of racist ideas in the works of the so-called classics of philosophy are growing louder. So far, the focus has been primarily on Kant and Hegel, in whose works racist statements are easily detected. However, the role of these racist ideas in their respective systems remains unclear, and especially in the case of Kant, the question also arises whether Kant is the author of the statements at all. Moreover, the accusation itself is quite ambiguous both in terms of its premises and its subject matter. This paper aims to help clarify this debate. It is primarily concerned with Kant’s philosophy, which is, however, situated in the context of some of the central assumptions of the Enlightenment. It will be shown that racist claims result from crucial elements of Kant’s mature philosophical system.