Childrens' book philosophy 2: Winnie the Pooh on Epicurean Ataraxia
Posted on
..
"Hallo Pooh," said Rabbit.
"Hallo Rabbit. Fourteen, wasn't it?"
"What was?"
"My pots of honey what I was counting."
"Fourteen, that's right."
"Are you sure?"
"No," said Rabbit. "Does it matter?"
"I just like to know," said Pooh humbly. "So as I can say to myself, 'I've got fourteen pots of honey left.' Or fifteen, as the case may be. It's sort of comforting."
Add new comment
- Add new comment
- 5890 views
Blog Archive
- December 2024 (2)
- November 2024 (2)
- September 2024 (4)
- July 2024 (2)
- March 2024 (1)
- February 2024 (2)
- December 2023 (2)
- November 2023 (2)
- October 2023 (3)
- September 2023 (3)
- August 2023 (1)
- July 2023 (1)
- June 2023 (2)
- May 2023 (3)
- April 2023 (3)
- March 2023 (6)
- February 2023 (2)
- January 2023 (5)
- November 2022 (3)
- October 2022 (1)
- September 2022 (1)
- August 2022 (1)
- July 2022 (6)
- May 2022 (3)
- April 2022 (2)
- March 2022 (3)
- January 2022 (3)
- December 2021 (1)
- November 2021 (3)
- October 2021 (1)
- September 2021 (3)
- August 2021 (4)
- July 2021 (2)
- June 2021 (3)
- May 2021 (2)
- April 2021 (4)
I am not sure I would call
I am not sure I would call that Ataraxia, Winnie's anxiety over honey betrays his fear of want. Also he has plenty to worry about: first Piglet is always tagging along and it must have crossed his mind that he may be contemplating a more "greek" friendship [I have read Laërce, I have a right to the expression!], then Eeyore is a bad case of depression if I ever saw one and should be brought to medical care before it is too late. Tigger is completely irresponsible, even dangerous to the others inhabitants and then there is the mother kangaroo; a single mother with no job that I know of and the kid hanging out with Tigger, a recipe for disaster...
I can't see Winnie ever attain Ataraxia like this. First he would have to retreat away from the bustle of forest-life.