Ma`rifat Siyasi

The question of the goals of government is noe of the important issues of political philosophy. After defining the meaning of religious government, the author points to the main views put forward about the goals of government. Contrary to the view adopted by modern philosophyers who hold that the fumction of government is maintaining order and promoting people's welfare, classical philosophers think that in addition to maintaining order and administeriny justice a government is responsible for education of nation and guiding it towards good and felicity and poving the say for attaining human virtues. The main difference between a eligious type of government and the non religious type is that in a religious type of government the main concern is not only meeting poople's physical needs but also emphasizing on justice in distributing facilities, and due to its observance of man's nature and reality a religious type of government is value – centred one. Accordingly, the main characteristics of this type of government are seeking justice, education of nation and guiding it towards true good and felicity and observing the profits of the hereafter.