And N=1 is well founded in science too, so Montaigne’s POV is “modern” too, though that is a bit hard to tease out unless well-versed in obscure scientific literature. Allen Neuringer at reed college did a lot of work in this area, and there is a good book called “Who Goes First?” About the early days of self-experimentation, before it was frowned upon. History, memory, and naturalism are the tools of the approach of Montaigne, and you have captured it well.
And N=1 is well founded in science too, so Montaigne’s POV is “modern” too, though that is a bit hard to tease out unless well-versed in obscure scientific literature. Allen Neuringer at reed college did a lot of work in this area, and there is a good book called “Who Goes First?” About the early days of self-experimentation, before it was frowned upon. History, memory, and naturalism are the tools of the approach of Montaigne, and you have captured it well.
Montaigne definitely pursued self-experimentation of a certain kind, didn't he? Indeed, one meaning of "essai" might be "experiment"...