Discusses Immanuel Kant's political theories and theory of progress, which rested on his belief that human nature has an inclination and capacity for improvement which no political system can destroy. Compares this with Johann Gottlieb Fichte's view of human nature as a metaphysical idea guaranteed in part by the existence of evil. Kant saw an analogy between history and nature, an idea alien to Fichte. Modern works dealing with these same themes still fail to reconcile the notion of progress with a viable philosophy of history. Based on two recent Italian translations of the German philosophers: G. A. Fichte 'Filosofia della storia e teoria della scienza viovanea' (Milan/Messina, 1956) and Immanuel Kant, 'Scritti politici de filosofia della storia e il diritto' (Turin, 1956).