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The article briefly discusses selected sociological approaches to public sphere, in particular those of J. Habermas, N. Luhmann and H. Arendt, showing the relationships between this subject and the problematic of formal and informal norms. Authors stress the necessity of directing sociological reflection on norms in the public sphere towards the issue of their actual social effect. This should allow sociological theories to avoid empirically unverifiable assumptions and counterfactual convictions regarding the functioning of public sphere. Having said that, the authors introduce papers collected in the volume.