The Concept of "Enlightened Absolutism" in Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani’s The Wisdom of Fiction

Abstract

Due to its geopolitical positioning, Georgia has historically served not merely as a cultural crossroads but as an intersection where Eastern-Western and Christian-Muslim civilizations converge. The sixteenth through the eighteenth centuries were characterized by pronounced diversity within the Georgian cultural sphere. This heterogeneity intellectually disrupted the stagnation caused by political inertia, thereby catalyzing new cultural dimensions. In this regard, the oeuvre of Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani is of particular scholarly interest. Through his lexicographical work Sityvis Kona (The Bouquet of Words), Orbeliani aligns with the traditions of Enlightenment encyclopedists, while his governance concepts synthesize traditional paradigms with innovative ideologies. Ideologically, Orbeliani operates as a Christian humanist who main­tains fidelity to the monarchical model of state-building while concurrently advocating for reform. His linguistic repertoire and stylistic approach reflect the same synthesis and intersection of Eastern and Western cultures that defined the contemporary Georgian societal epoch. This study focuses on Orbeliani's statecraft vision as articulated in his collection of fables. In his narrative framework, pseudo-virtue is contrasted with genuine virtue, and superficial action is juxtaposed with meaningful agency. Mirroring the European Enlightenment, Orbeliani conceptualizes a harmonious society anchored by the citizenry and their ethical-political consciousness. The ethical dilemmas of the era are manifested through character archetypes and reflected at the intersection of ethical and aesthetic dimensions. The ethical dilemmas of the era are mani­fested through character archetypes and reflected at the intersection of ethical and aesthetic dimensions. The dissemination of knowledge among the masses, the introduction of transformative ideologies to the citizenry, and the moralistic pathos that characterize the European Enlightenment are equally observable in Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani’s literary prose. Within The Wisdom of Fiction, the author utilizes allegory, satire, humor, irony, and paradox—literary devices intrinsically tied to Enlightenment discourse. Orbeliani's socio-political concepts closely align with the paradigm of so-called "enlightened absolutism," which asserts the supremacy of state interests and posits that all actions must be executed for the benefit of the state. This exact principle serves as the axis that contrasts reality with the ideal within The Wisdom of Fiction. In this conflict, the text ensures the triumph of the state ideal, wherein every societal component possesses a distinct function, enabling the nation to claim its rightful position upon the "Eastern-Western Divan" (Kotetishvili).