Radical Relationality and Extended Cognition: Performed Philosophy in Ruth Ozeki’s A Tale for the Time Being
Alexandra Effe
Life Writing September 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/14484528.2026.2718293 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that autofictional texts, especially since the second half of the twentieth century, function as interdisciplinary theoretical engagements with selfhood, ethics, and truth. Reading Ruth Ozeki's A Tale for the Time Being as a philosophical treatise and literary performance of relational individuation, the author contends it dialogues with Judith Butler's moral philosophy and extended cognition accounts, and that Ozeki's performed philosophy of 'radical relationality' complements traditional philosophical accounts. |
Abstract
Autofiction is often considered a generic hybrid, combining autobiographical and fictional modes. This essay argues that many autofictional texts are interdisciplinary hybrids, too. Especially from the second half of the twentieth century onwards, autofictional texts often constitute profound theoretical engagements with the notions of self and identity-construction, and with questions of ethics and truth. The essay reads Ruth Ozeki’s A Tale for the Time Being (2013) as a theoretical-philosophical treatise and literary performance of relational individuation and shows how the book is in dialogue with moral-philosophical arguments by Judith Butler as well as with accounts of extended cognition, as they have been developed in philosophy of mind. By way of considering the reading experience, the essay reflects on how Ozeki's performed philosophy of what philosopher John Protevi terms ‘radical relationality’ complements more traditional philosophical accounts.