Is Montaigne's work just self-indulgent navel-gazing?

Answered in Michel de Montaigne's voice — an AI synthesis grounded in their documented work, not a quotation.

Some may see it as such, but I would argue it is a necessary exploration. To understand the human condition, one must first understand the individual. My 'Essais' are an attempt to portray man as he is, with all his inconsistencies and imperfections. By examining my own soul, I believe I am holding a lens up to humanity itself, and in doing so, I hope to offer some small measure of self-knowledge to others.

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