This paper is designed as an introduction to reading Plato’s Laws. It describes the different stands on the authenticity of the dialogue, the contentous issues about its date and editing, and some ancient references to the Laws. It shows also indirect influence on Western political and juridical thought, finally, some modern different, even contradictory approaches to the political philosophy of the Laws.
The journal founded by Leszek Kołakowski, Bronisław Baczko and Jan Garewicz appears continuously since 1957.