Interests of the people, society, state, as a subject of philosophical analysis of N. Machiavelli

The article examines the understanding of the common good, including the interests of the people, society, state, in the philosophical analysis of N. Machiavelli. The conceptual complexity of this concept in the works of the scientist is established, reflecting political, psychological and rhetorical aspects. It is determined that, considering this concept in the form of an ideal, the philosopher showed its internal contradiction. It is revealed that political reality reflects the impossibility of implementing the ideal, since the common good of a developed state is accompanied by aggressive conquests and sacrifices of its citizens. Representation of the common interests of the people, society, state, from the point of view of psychological motivation is also problematic, since the connection between patriotic motivation and the common good is unstable. As a result, a conclusion was made about the limited use of the concept of the common good in the philosophical teaching of Machiavelli in order to make it the main idea of political thinking.