How did scientists themselves – representatives of various scientific disciplines in the late XIX – early XX centuries see the nature of science, the activities of a scientist? And how has this view changed in our day? Below we consider how the goal of science, its development and communication with society was understood by the sociologist Max Weber, the mathematician Henri Poincaré and the physicist Ernst Mach. It seems surprising that they all completely disregard the connection of science, its development with material production, the development of technology, or just ignore it. This understanding of science and scientific practicein the beginning of the XX century focused o n the period of development of science, when it was a matter of curious lonely enthusiasts. The development of science in the XX century made it quite clear that science exists in a social context, and society has a decisive influence on its development. Business and the state need science only as a means of developing new technologies. Knowledge, truth, which once were really the priority goal of scientific research, is not needed by the business and the state, and gradually they become just a by-product of applied research.