Knowledge doesn't really form part of human nature. Conflict, combat, the outcome of the combat, and, consequently, risk and chance are what gives rise to knowledge. Knowledge is not instinctive; it is counter instinctive, just as it is not natural but counter natural.

The quote by Michel Foucault suggests that knowledge is not something inherently embedded in human nature, but rather something that arises through conflict and struggle. Foucault emphasizes that the process of gaining knowledge is not instinctive or natural, but instead, it emerges from combat—whether intellectual, social, or political. This notion challenges traditional views that knowledge is a natural part of human existence, arguing instead that it is shaped by risk, chance, and the outcomes of various battles or struggles.

Foucault’s argument is that knowledge is counter-instinctive and counter-natural; it does not simply flow from human intuition or instinct, but often emerges from confronting and overcoming challenges. He suggests that knowledge arises when individuals or groups face circumstances that require them to adapt, question, or fight against existing norms and systems. Thus, knowledge is framed as a constructive force that results from human agency and the interactions between power, conflict, and experience.

The origin of the quote comes from Michel Foucault, a French philosopher and social theorist known for his ideas on the relationship between power and knowledge. Foucault argued that knowledge is not a neutral or objective truth, but something shaped by the dynamics of power and societal structures. He explored how institutions, practices, and discourses create and control knowledge, and how this knowledge, in turn, impacts the way individuals and societies function.

Ultimately, Foucault’s quote underscores his belief that knowledge is not something passively received or instinctively known, but something actively created through struggle and interaction with the world. It highlights the dynamic and contingent nature of knowledge, emphasizing how it is continuously formed, reformed, and challenged through the conflicts that define human existence.