"The Wealth of Nations" vs. "The Communist Manifesto" Looking at the beginnings of civilization, one can identify a common theme between almost all prior cities and nations. This theme was and still is that these civilizations were structured and divided according to different powers, no matter it being social, economic, or political power. An example of this can be seen when examining the Feudal system of the Medieval period, when power was held by kings and lords, while peasants had barely if any say in rule. Many have had their say in what they believe to be the "utopian system," by which nations and states should be run. Their perfect system for economics and society have been based on a wide array of ideas, ranging from Social Darwinism to needs of all human beings. Two individuals who held widely differing political views on their ideas of the "perfect government" were Adam Smith and Karl Marx. Adam Smith has been regarded to be the father of modern economics, and many of his ideas have been integrated in a majority of the nations in the present day world. His major work was "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations," where he discusses many of his economic views. Smith discovered surprising conclusions during his time, when he applied scientific principles to economic behavior. One of his dramatic conclusions was that people mainly acted out of their own self-interests, and if permitted to follow their own interests it created natural social harmony and economic productivity. This would occur and was led without any conscious control or direction, "as if by an invisible hand." According to Smith's "The Wealth of Nations," he held the belief that a greater division of labor lead to a greater amount of productivity. The more divisions which are created, the faster a product can be created and therefore a greater quantity can be produced in the same relative time. With division of labor, the process of manufac...