Emile Benoit (writer)
Encyclopedia
Emile Benoit is the pseudonym
for the American author of the critically acclaimed Essays and Aphorisms on the Higher Man
as well as the full length play A Midsummer Night's Hangover. Fiercely protective of his solitude, Benoit has spent most of his life in relative obscurity, known only to a small group of loyal admirers. Yet, the Internet is largely responsible for circulating Benoit’s work to a larger audience. Eudaimon Press was established in 2009 for the sole purpose of publishing Benoit’s writing and making it available to readers.
, Hume
, Nietzsche's Superman, and the selfishness of Sartre's existential humanism
. In a sense, he or she can become a "higher man." Benoit writes, "The evolution of the species will be when man can incorporate and digest all of his religions and live wholly, honestly and peacefully with himself and others…when he accepts all the religions, arts, and sciences as expressions of human greatness; a time when even the truth will no longer be an eternal proposition but simply an expression of mankind’s prominence at making the incomprehensible understood – if but only briefly." As Benoit writes in the preface of the book, his intention is "to inspire, rather than impose, to incite rather than allow man to settle into a comfortable repose, delighted with himself."
The book has won critical acclaim from reviewers as well as New York Times bestselling authors. In a review from ForeWord (magazine)
, Lee Gordon writes: "With the brevity of Confucius
, the beauty, depth, wit and wisdom of the poet Rumi, and his own succinct, lyrical language, Benoit writes about the human condition."
on religion, love, and friendship. These two comedies are both poetic, playful, and irreverent pieces that provide for some thoughtful and comical insight into the human condition.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
for the American author of the critically acclaimed Essays and Aphorisms on the Higher Man
Essays and Aphorisms on the Higher Man
Essays and Aphorisms on the Higher Man is the work of the American writer and philosopher, Emile Benoit . The Foreword Clarion Review writes that "History has shown examples of man trying to pull himself out of his ignorant bliss and stagnancy, from the philosopher kings and Renaissance man to...
as well as the full length play A Midsummer Night's Hangover. Fiercely protective of his solitude, Benoit has spent most of his life in relative obscurity, known only to a small group of loyal admirers. Yet, the Internet is largely responsible for circulating Benoit’s work to a larger audience. Eudaimon Press was established in 2009 for the sole purpose of publishing Benoit’s writing and making it available to readers.
Essays and Aphorisms on the Higher Man
History has shown examples of man trying to pull himself out of his ignorant bliss and stagnancy, from the philosopher kings and Renaissance man to Nietzsche's Superman. A scant number of individuals have dared to become something more by the unremitting quest for knowledge gained from the arts, religion, philosophy, etc., and the implementation of this knowledge across the broad spectrum of their lives and the lives of others…[H]umanity can go beyond KantKANT
KANT is a computer algebra system for mathematicians interested in algebraic number theory, performing sophisticated computations in algebraic number fields, in global function fields, and in local fields. KASH is the associated command line interface...
, Hume
David Hume
David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, known especially for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism. He was one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment...
, Nietzsche's Superman, and the selfishness of Sartre's existential humanism
Existential humanism
Existential humanism is a concept that can be understood in several different ways. Sartre said Existentialism is a humanism because it expresses the power of human beings to make freely-willed choices, independent of the influence of religion or society...
. In a sense, he or she can become a "higher man." Benoit writes, "The evolution of the species will be when man can incorporate and digest all of his religions and live wholly, honestly and peacefully with himself and others…when he accepts all the religions, arts, and sciences as expressions of human greatness; a time when even the truth will no longer be an eternal proposition but simply an expression of mankind’s prominence at making the incomprehensible understood – if but only briefly." As Benoit writes in the preface of the book, his intention is "to inspire, rather than impose, to incite rather than allow man to settle into a comfortable repose, delighted with himself."
The book has won critical acclaim from reviewers as well as New York Times bestselling authors. In a review from ForeWord (magazine)
ForeWord (magazine)
ForeWord is a trade journal published six times yearly with the tagline, “Reviews of Good Books Independently Published.” The magazine is distributed primarily to librarians and booksellers to familiarize them with upcoming books from small, independent, and university presses, as well as...
, Lee Gordon writes: "With the brevity of Confucius
Confucius
Confucius , literally "Master Kong", was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period....
, the beauty, depth, wit and wisdom of the poet Rumi, and his own succinct, lyrical language, Benoit writes about the human condition."
A Midsummer Night’s Hangover and Heaven
In A Midsummer Night's Hangover, two young lovers must overcome the religious rigidity of the girl's father in order to be together. Inevitably, they must escape to the woods, fake their own deaths, and summon the devil himself for assistance. Midsummer is a darkly lyrical and comic world inhabited by lonely dreamers, vengeful lovers, rabid feminists, assorted potions, and a statue that springs to life. As a complement to the full length play, Heaven is a comedic one act that imagines a crisis in heaven wherein God Himself is suffering from a creative block and must assemble the great artists of Hell to join Him in Heaven for inspiration. What ensues is a gentle and quirky satireSatire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
on religion, love, and friendship. These two comedies are both poetic, playful, and irreverent pieces that provide for some thoughtful and comical insight into the human condition.