Catherine The Great As An Enlightened Despot Analysis

In order to analyse the extent to which Catherine the Great can be thought of as an enlightened despot, it is first necessary to define the term enlightenment. Immanuel Kant’s definition is effective to consider how far Catherine fulfils this description. Kant suggests that a lack of courage and resolution to use one’s own understanding without the guidance of another creates a self-incurred immaturity from which one must emerge in order to be enlightened. By saying, ‘Have courage to use your own understanding!’ Kant implies that guidance or even support from another (in this case the support Catherine receives form the nobility) means that she is unenlightened as a ruler as she refuses to introduce any policies or reforms that may lose her the support of the nobility thus threatening her power. Catherine’s lack of courage and resolution to persevere in implementing these measures which, she, as a reader of a multitude of enlightenment writers knows would be progressive and enlightened, forces one to question the integrity and honesty of the image of an enlightened ruler she is so keen to portray herself as.
An enlightened despot was someone who embraced the ideals of the Enlightenment …show more content…
In the first edition of the Nakaz there was a large section dedicated to improving the situation of serfs. However, in the final version, there was almost nothing that would improve their situation except a fleeting comment expressing her wish that masters would not abuse their serfs. This goes against the sense of duty to improve the life of their people, which an enlightened ruler would possess. Hence one could conclude that she was not as enlightened as she aimed to portray. Nevertheless upon reading her memoirs, it is clear that Catherine II regretted the treatment of the serfs, which perhaps indicates that she as an individual was enlightened, however she knew that Russia was not ready to abolish