For those interested in reading up on some 'thinkers' in their free time, my advice is that it's usually best to pick two or three major 'thinkers' at most and do some detailed research into them. I think two that most definately deserve a mention are:
1. Heidegger - interested in poetry as a means of expression that could transcend some of the limitations of philosophical discouse. Found that modern industrial society had produced a 'nihilism' in which being had ceased to have any meaning. I think something really interesting he says is that language speaks us. You've got to be careful when researching his theories because alot is irrelavant to RFTG, but is so interesting you tend to go off at a tangent.
2. Foucault - Questions cultural assumptions and discourses of power. Really interesting stuff on power and truth - I can't remember much but he argues that power is an attempt to impose order and is exerted in systems of knowledge and social institutions so that truth is never absolute, but is rather an expression of prevailing social norms and a product of power relations. Unlike Heidegger he views language as a security blanket to maintain power. Lots of material to investigate in Foucault's theories, but like Heidegger's it's really easy to go offtrack.
Personally, I'm choosing these two and possible Fukuyama as well to study, but any of the other ways other people mentioned before are excellent if you keep on track and constantly remind yourself that the thinkers are suppose to help you analyse your text not the other way around.
I think it's almost crucial if you're aiming for a top mark to go into indepth discussion of the 'ways of thinking' surrounding the texts. Like the syllabus says "ways in which scientific, religious, philosophical or economic paradigms have shapes and are reflected in literature and other texts."
