Two Faces of Mathematics, and is it a Science?

With reference to certain ideas of Reuben Hersh, the paper attempts to present and confront two approaches concerning the essence of mathematics. On one hand mathematics is presented as an inflexible stronghold of truth in which what is established is considered final. However, on the other hand, as R. Hersh points, it does not differ from other forms of scientific research; it is burdened with uncertainty and it can be modified. Appreciating the importance of Hersh's social-mathematical observations, the author indicates that mathematics simply has two different facets. In one mathematics is a process of achieving the truth, in the other, it is a generally accepted way of presenting this truth.