1. Intellectual consideration of a subject or idea based on abstract reasoning rather than empirical evidence or practical application
The philosopher engaged in theoretical speculation about the nature of consciousness.
O filósofo se envolveu em especulação teórica sobre a natureza da consciência.
2. Conjectural reasoning or hypothesis formation in an academic or scientific context without immediate practical validation
Much of early physics was based on theoretical speculation before experimental methods were developed.
Grande parte da física inicial era baseada em especulação teórica antes que os métodos experimentais fossem desenvolvidos.