The Enlightenment of Buddha and C.S. Lewis’ We Have No “Right to Happiness” both deal on the themes of unbridle passions and the consequences it brings in man’s life. Buddha’s realization that the true path to Enlightenment can only be achieved through selflessness is reflective of the avarices of men. Greed and ignorance pervade through the man’s life and he as he continues to delude himself with this over and over again in his cycle of rebirth, he will be unable to find the true path to reaching enlightenment. Although the tenets of Buddhism may not be applicable to people whose religion differs, it can still serve as a moral compass in how to live one’s life. C.S. Lewis’ piece, then also tackles the same idea of how unbridled passions can actually isolate and result in self-pity for an individual. Lewis contests the idea of a right to happiness or the right to pursue happiness. He states that a right entails and suggests a legal one and categorizes the right to happiness in adhering to a Natural Law instead of laws made by the state. Lewis also mentions that a right to happiness does not mean doing anything or any means that will allow that happiness to be achieved. For example, some people may find crimes to be their source of happiness and that in itself is wrong. Happiness and its pursuit then needs to be still are confined in what the law allows. Lewis makes a point then to differentiate what pursuing an action morally compared too legally. He also redefines and reinforces the idea that pursuing sexual happiness only results in an endless cycle that result in infidelity and self-pity.
Works Cited
Lewis, C.S. “We Have No “Right to Happiness”.” Current Issues and Enduring Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking and Argument, with Readings. 9th edition. Eds. Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Budau. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011. 1003-1007. Print.
Hirschberg, Stuart, and Terry Hirschberg. Past to Present: Ideas That Changed Our World. USA: Pearson Education, Inc. 2003. Print.
