  This paper establishes grounds for deeper exploration into the question of
dual nature of mathematics as an abstract discipline and as a concrete science.
It is argued, as one of the consequences of the discussion, that the division
into "pure" and "applied" mathematics is artificial. The criterion of
creativity and applicability outside of the original context is used as a
litmus test. It is emphasized that great societies and cultural environments
produce great mathematics and individual mathematicians.
