本文將菲利普．羅斯的小說《人性污點》（2000）解讀為對各式相對主義的批判。羅斯小說中的文化、種族、以及政治相對論者，往往譴責小說主角是個不識相的無德者。文化相對論者厭惡他的反社會性格。種族相對論者憎恨他的無認同作為。政治相對論者更是討厭他的理性主義。本文主張羅斯的小說旨在呈現文化、種族、以及政治相對主義的謬誤，替小說主角，亦即書中的理性之人伸張正義。
本文包含三個主要章節，分段討論羅斯針對特定相對主義所提出的批判。第一章檢視羅斯如何形塑文化相對論者以批判文化相對主義。第二章探討羅斯如何藉書中角色對種族相對論的錯誤認知，彰顯種族相對主義所包藏的種族歧視。第三章則釐清羅斯如何藉小說敘事者的相對主義論調，將政治相對主義貶為反智論述。

The thesis reads Philip Roth’s The Human Stain (2000) as a critique of different forms of relativism. In the novel, holders of relativist views on culture, race and politics often denounce Coleman Silk, Roth’s protagonist, as an immoralist unfit for social life. Cultural relativists abhor Coleman’s antisocial tendencies. Racial relativists detest Coleman for his being non-identitarian. Political relativists, then, abominate Coleman’s rationalism. It is here contended that Roth’s novel shows how such beliefs in cultural, racial and political relativisms fail to substantiate the many charges brought against Coleman as a man of reason.
The thesis comprises three main chapters with each chapter devoted to Roth’s critique of a specific form of relativism. Chapter One examines how Roth criticizes cultural relativism by characterizing Delphine Roux as a cultural relativist. Chapter Two explores how Roth condemns racial relativism as racism by portraying characters who mistake racial relativism for an innocuous idea. Chapter Three looks into how Roth defines and criticizes political relativism as anti-intellectualism by making Nathan Zuckerman a relativist.

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