In what sense can Kant be considered the father of Western racist theories? Is it true that his anthropological conception must be placed at the basis of the subsequent Western attitude towards racial differences? By analysing a number of Kant's texts, the course will focus in particular on the relationship between anthropology and the universalism underlying his ethical conception in order to understand how these two elements, at first sight completely antinomic, can be held together. Going through the Hegelian conception of anthropology, an attempt will then be made to show the further transition from Kantian to Hegelian import. Finally, the last part of the course will reflect on the attitude to the phenomenon of cancell culture and possible interpretations of it.