The Levinasian critique of the Western philosophical tradition can be named, with Heidegger in mind, “forgetfulness”. But instead of forgetfulness of being it would now be forgetfulness of the “otherwise than being” (autrement q’etre). Analyzing the idea of alterity and stressing the aspect of difference, it is shown that otherness for Levinas is met not conceptually or self-reflectively or even ontologically but though the expressivity of the face, the face of the other person. That leads to the communication with the other. Discussing this encounter with the other and nature of communication it is shown how Levinas avoids the ontological relation and goes back to the forgotten ethical dimension of metaphysics.