Childrens' book philosophy 2: Winnie the Pooh on Epicurean Ataraxia
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"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."
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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.