N. Machiavelli's ethical standpoint and overcoming the Christian moral tradition in politics

The study reviews the ethical attitude of N. Machiavelli towards moral aspects in political activity that replaced the Christian tradition. He attempted to overcome abstract religious constraints in politics and justified a rational view on the moral foundations and political restrictions. Machiavelli considered the nature of values in political activity which had to depend on the prevailing conditions. Political morality had to be based on practical reason, and the contradiction between morality and politics had to be resolved through a common interest. Therefore, according to N. Machiavelli, policies had to be linked to society and social needs, which created the necessary moral standards. As a result, the moral search and the moral factor were removed beyond religion and explained in a rational way.