Philip Salembier

Master of Science Philip Salembier

Master of Science is a story about a detective, Sid, who becomes, to his way of thinking, in the course of the novel, a master of the science and of human behavior. Unfortunately for Sid, the science is indeterminate, so all he has are probabilities and his hunches when trying to solve a case. He bases his investigations on his hunches believing them scientific. Early in the novel, Sid tries to solve a murder that leads him towards a greater understanding of humanity. Ultimately, the novel is about the limits of science, our understanding of our fellow humans and our understanding of the universe: dependent models floating in a void of ignorance. Sid never reaches enlightenment, but his understanding gained from a life as a detective makes him realize the limits of his calling. But he will never retire. He will continue trying to catch bad guys.