A committed scientist
Henri Poincaré, an essential reference both in scientific terms and in literary or philosophical terms (he was a member of the Académie des sciences but also of the Académie française), committed himself on many occasions, convinced that rationality must not yield to the seductions of demagogy. 'He prefers to shock through excessive intransigence rather than run the risk of pleasing through the slightest concession,' as Émile Borel would say. Knowledge has for Poincaré a political function; it must make it possible to abolish every form of obscurantism. He fought on all fronts to promote the lights of knowledge. It is therefore not surprising to find him at the heart of the Dreyfus affair, where his commitment was decisive in 'dismantling' the prosecution's arguments. He was also involved in defending a scientific and pragmatic vision of the geodesic expedition in South America. Beyond that, he is one of the first to reflect on the psychology of invention. The influence of his writings on the artistic avant-gardes of the twentieth century is significant.
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Poincaré and science: conventions and reality | Tangente
Poincaré's works on the philosophy of science were a resounding popular success. Today they have lost none of their value, interest or charm! His distinctive way of understanding and describing facts is one hallmark of Poincaré's original thought.
Poincaré and analytical Cubism: geometry and art | Tangente
As an artistic movement, Cubism grew out of a fundamentally mathematical approach to space, shortly after the publication of La Science et l’Hypothèse. In it, Henri Poincaré discusses the nature of space, and artists would strive to "turn his words into paintings."
Poincaré and his heirs: the documentary | Tangente
Henri Poincaré, l'harmonie et le chaos (Henri Poincaré: Harmony and Chaos) is a 53-minute documentary made by Philippe Worms in 2012 and available online. Its unusual premise: the director brought six scientists together in a manor house for a weekend and filmed their informal conversations about Henri Poincaré.
Cédric Villani's tribute to Henri Poincaré | Tangente
A 2010 Fields Medalist, Cédric Villani drew heavily on Poincaré's work in analysis for his own research.
Institut Henri-Poincaré: activities and missions | Tangente
The Poincaré Seminar on theoretical physics takes place in a venue worthy of the name: the Institut Henri-Poincaré, in Paris's 5th arrondissement, at the heart of the Latin Quarter.
A major role in the Dreyfus affair
The Dreyfus affair ranks among the great fiascos of French legal history, tearing society apart in its day. Mathematicians played a major role in securing Captain Dreyfus's rehabilitation, notably by writing a report on an application of probability theory.
Poincaré: psychology of mathematical invention | Tangente
Henri Poincaré wrote extensively about his experience as a mathematician and the role of intuition in mathematics. Less well known is that he also agreed to take part in a clinical study conducted by the psychiatrist Dr Toulouse. Even so, the origins of mathematical creativity remain mysterious.