The Tolstoy-Poincare controversy on ethics in science

In 1907, Poincare took up his pen in a passionate defence of  the motto "science for its own sake'', in response to Tolstoy's contention that science de facto depends on ethical decisions.   This epic controversy which pitted a scientific giant against a towering writer set the tone for subsequent discussions on ethics and science.

Dr Urmie Ray - After reading mathematics in Cambridge, Dr. Ray was an academic mathematician, notably in France, where she lives.  She is presently a visiting scholar in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, at the university of Cambridge.  Her forthcoming book, ``On Science: Concepts, Cultures and Limits'', is to be published by Routledge next year.