According to Levinas, people are hostages because their personal identity is determined by how they respond to the demands others place upon them.

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Levinas argues that individuals are ethically responsible to others, and this responsibility defines their identity. He uses the metaphor of being a "hostage" to illustrate how one's sense of self is deeply entangled with the needs and demands of others, suggesting that our primary ethical obligation is to respond to the Other.

According to Levinas, People Are Hostages Because Their Personal Identity