How to build a solid, self-taught formation on continental philosophy?

I would personally start by getting acquainted with the history of the split. Melvyn Bragg has a podcast covering the basics of the split, and Simon Critchley has a short but informative book on the topic. I highly suggest both, as they will be helpful in getting your feet wet.

As mentioned in this comment The Berstein Lecture tapes are a great resource for learning about Kant and Hegel, two of the most important figures in continental thought.

You may also find the lectures of Dr. Sadler to be of value, as they cover a huge range of Continental thinkers, and he does a pretty decent job.

As somebody who (almost exclusively reads) continental thinkers, I want to let you know before you start that impostor syndrome is almost inevitable. You will almost always feel like you are out of your league, and just hacking your way through the field. Don't let this set you back. Stay focused, get a good grounding in the big figures of continental thought, and just read, read, and read some more! Read so many intro to "X" books and fundamental texts, that you actually get bored of seeing the same ideas worded different ways. This is a good sign, it means you are becoming grounded in your thinking.

Write about what you read/listen too. Take notes, meditate on the subject, try and figure out what they are saying. Google that shit if you don't understand it. Google it twice if you don't understand it the second time. Ask r/askphilosophy if a third google fails you. Don't let yourself continue on in your studies if a theory is wrestling with you. You should be able to confidently write on the basics of Continental thought before you move on to the complex and confusing stuff.

Also, have fun! Continental philosophy is really fun. It's poetic, beautiful, and full of stuff that can/will change the way you view the world. So don't let hang ups and impostor syndrome get you down. The feeling you get when you finally nail an idea or theory is one of the greatest feelings in the world.

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