However, here are some figures who align with this idea:
* Karl Popper: Popper's philosophy of science emphasizes the falsifiable nature of knowledge. He believed that knowledge should be constantly tested and challenged, making it inherently speculative and evolving.
* Thomas Kuhn: Kuhn's work on the "Structure of Scientific Revolutions" highlights how scientific paradigms shift over time. This implies that knowledge is not static but rather evolves through a process of paradigm shifts, making it speculative.
* Immanuel Kant: Kant argued that our knowledge is not simply a reflection of reality but rather shaped by the structures of our minds. This emphasizes the subjective and speculative nature of human understanding.
* Ancient Greek Philosophers: Many ancient Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle recognized the limitations of human knowledge and the importance of questioning and seeking truth. This inherent skepticism can be interpreted as a belief in the speculative nature of knowledge.
It's important to remember that this quote is likely a distillation of a broader philosophical concept, rather than a specific statement from a single author.