Right, but the goal of an essay is typically not to disseminate certified, proven fact beyond all possible dispute. In fact, many essays argue points that are i

Right, but the goal of an essay is typically not to disseminate certified, proven fact beyond all possible dispute. In fact, many essays argue points that are inherently fuzzy—e.g. an essay on your interpretation of your favorite novel will make an argument for your interpretation but it will never prove that it is the one true interpretation of a novel since that’s ridiculous and impossible. Often the goal in writing an essay is to share a personal view or experience, and sometimes to get others to share their thoughts on a topic. For example, if you did write an essay on why Java’s static is better than Ruby’s @, it might lead others to engage with you, share their thoughts, and help you learn more or modulate your own viewpoint as a result. Montaigne, the oft-touted father of the essay as a form of literature, in fact explicitly wrote essays as a means of self-reflection and self-exploration. This isn’t some technical paper coming from a research lab or standards body, it’s someone interested in a particular topic sharing their thoughts on that topic, potentially influencing others and potentially being influenced themselves.