Best university for Continental Philosophy in the UK

Sure, I can sit here and think for myself. However it is through learning about the possible tools and previous methology - the previous convincing arguments - that one manages to acquire a decent and informed outlook on the world.

You're essentially saying, "You don't need an internation relations degree to understand how different countries act". Well, quite; but who are the people in the media commenting upon what they think Chinas response to North Koreas aggression towards the West would be? People who have studied the internation relations and history of those countries during a recent period.

All you do is find a new language. That is - language of philosophy.

You may think you are thinking for yourself, but you are only being one of the many bearers of that philosophical language. It is not your own thoughts at all and you are only contributing your own Idiomatic style from the standard usage of that field.

You can study international relations and never have had step into a shoe of a person that actually participate in international relations: such as people who are by trade are diplomats; a representative of a multinational corporation; a person who works for the Secretary of State; an errand boy in some remote embassy in some backward State, and other positions and places where people actually works in international relations.

The others, are simply bull**** artist that never did this profession and somehow are hired by corporate media because they don't care about "real" life experiences, but just want someone to know how to talk about it.

Now, there is an exeception of former professionals who had engaged in international relations and change career as a television personality, a newspaper columnist, and other sorts. But, it is mainly a limited expertise since they no longer practice the profession and are totally out of touch with their fellow contemporaries who are still in present practising the profession. They are speculative mongerers with experiences backing their reputation, I say!

Philosophy is partly about consolidating beliefs and giving us the tools and methodology to tackle such big questions.

You can see the history of thought and how other academics answered the question. By studying and learing such a broad subject you are instantaneously in a better position to ponder upon the world we live in - equipped with great analytical tools and an informed perspective. Studying philosophy is certainly not a redundant proposition, as you seem to be implying. Correct me if I'm wrong, by all means.

Using such an analogy, when I think of a new idea, through the fault of using the language of English through which to communicate it, then suddenly it is not my idea. Indeed, to state that "Edward the Confessor gave an oath of fealty to William the Conqueror" isn't my own opinion just because such an opinion has been made in the past is a ridiculous idea.

I may be drawn towards a certain philosopher's way of thinking. Does that mean I'm not thinking for myself?

Of course not! I'm merely informing myself of the different routes someone has taken to reach a conclusion, applying my own tools that logic has given me, and then perhaps agreeing with aspects of a certain philosopher.

You can't enhance your own beliefs without looking at other philosopher's opinions that may challenge your own. It would only lead to ignorance.

You're still making your own decisions, but merely broadening your mind.

Need a student of philosophy be a "philosopher"? Need a student of international relations be a "diplomat"? My analogy still applies. Students of international relations have a better insight into the world of that subject. The same thing applies to students of philosophy.

An international relations student may not be a diplomat. However how does it logically follow that he's not more informed about international relations than an ordinary person? Hey, perhaps even the diplomat himself had studied international relations, politics or another related area. Again, perhaps not... But that's rather irrelevant to my point, I would have thought...

Hmmm. This seems to be more of a rather uninformed opinion to confirm your own point rather than anything else...

'duh, why go to university to learn how to read books'

You KNOW there is more to all of this than what you pretend to think.

So you are saying that philosophy is not about coming up with new set of questions instead of questions that has been already exhausted?

Maybe you should consider a different school to study in.

Philosophy is a redundant proposition? Ha! After reading all of your quotes glorifying past philosophers (academics), you have nothing better to say about them, or even give me any reason to believe why should I read some of their works.

All you talk about, vaguely, that it gives you some powers on pondering about the world and such vainglory prizes that it can give you.

No. You are thinking for yourself and not through the philosopher. Reading of other philosophers only give you the sense of how you interpret it. The meaning you derive from whatever paticular philosophical literature that you had read, is something of you deferring the text's meaning. And that my friend, is a fiction as well. Since you cannot know what the thoughts are from the mere words that is written down by the author. It is your own thoughts trying to make sense of it in your own idiosyncratic way.

The routes, the tools of your logic, and the opinions of whatever philosopher you had read, is your own.

I can say it even better. You can enhance your own beliefs as long as you acknowledge that when you read of another philosopher's opinions, they are your own set opinions of what the Philosopher's opinions really means to you.

Then how would you define a "student?" Is there a criterion, or a set of criterions, that can differentiate on what is a good student and a bad one?

It is relevant because it is not completely defined yet on how a student acquires the knowledge of international relations while studying it; and that the student not being a practioner of the craft, like a diplomat does on a regular basis.

Your deduction is not what I am aiming at.

Is this a question or a reactionary response of something I've had said?

Pretend to think? How about I pretend to think of pretending that you are not serious of me pretending to have such a thought of me pretending?