Machiavelli derived political rules from objective conditions of struggle, not ethics

Evidence

His political philosophy is scientific and empirical, based upon his own experience of affairs, concerned to set forth the means to assigned ends, regardless of the question whether the ends are to be considered good or bad. — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 1870 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim
• XREF: connects to: Machiavelli’s concepts function as intuitions and symbols, not metaphysics; Machiavelli’s work is immediate political action, not utopian blueprint; Machiavelli based political philosophy on empirical means rather than moral ends — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 1870 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Machiavelli based political philosophy on empirical means rather than moral ends #corroborates (1.00) — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 1870