Best known for his theories of ethics and responsibility, Emmanuel Levinas was one of the most profound and influential thinkers of the last century. In this clear, accessible guide, Sean Hand examines why Levinas is increasingly fundamental to the study of literature and culture today. Exploring the intellectual and social contexts of his work and the events that shaped it, Hand considers:

• the influence of phenomenology and Judaism on Levinas s thought
• key concepts such as the face, the other, ethical consciousness and responsibility
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A study of one of the key philosophers in the post-Heideggerian field and an increasingly central presence in contemporary debates about identity and responsibility.