Abstract. The aim of this article is to compare the ethical concepts of Russian physiologist and philosopher Alexej Uhtomsky and French philosopher Emmanuel Levinas. Both thinkers use the word “face” as a term. “The face” is described in the paper as a key-image for understanding the sense of dialogue and social cooperation in the work of both thinkers. The meeting with the face of the other is considered by them as a central event in the formation of the personality. The face in its linguistic and “terminological” meaning is viewed in the paper as crystallization-zone of cultural differences and similarities.