On different levels each philosopher could not deny and would agree that we do need a state. .

             Adam Smith was the first of these three philosophers both chronologically and in that his ideas and method"s set the path for future political thought. Smith was what many believe to be the founder of modern Economics. Born in Scotland in 1723 he was educated at Glasgow and Oxford University. He then went on to become professor of logic and then professor of moral philosophy at the University of Glasgow. After retiring he wrote his famous book Wealth of Nations. Adam Smith died in 1790. .

             Smith was a true believer in free trade and trade between nations"s as a method to better a state"s citizens economically. He believed that unregulated trade with no economic borders would be the most efficient use of the resources held within a state. Adam Smith felt that through specialization, the process of doing what one does best and focusing solely on this task, the people and the state would be better off. This process would allow the state to puts its own resources to use, produce what goods they could with these resources and then trade them with other nations to provide its citizens with the specialized goods, of another nation or state, that they otherwise could not produce but were needed. .

             Smith is also widely remembered for his view on the individual within the state. He believed that it was crucial that the individuals do as he/she pleased in order to pursue their own best interests. He said that this would inadvertently benefit society as a whole. He called this his "Invisible Hand Theory". He felt that private property was to be protected and not threatened by the state. He thought that the individual could do what they pleased with their private property without state intervention. The ultimate objective of this was that private property control would lead to co-operation and mutual respect within a society.