Who indicated that wealth redistribution is justifiable only to resolve past injustices?

The idea that wealth redistribution is justifiable only to rectify past injustices is prominently associated with the philosopher Robert Nozick. In his seminal work "Anarchy, State, and Utopia," Nozick argues against patterned theories of distributive justice, which attempt to define what a just distribution of wealth should look like. Instead, he asserts that any redistribution must be grounded in the principle of rectifying injustices related to acquisition and transfer of holdings. According to Nozick, past injustices—such as theft or coercion—can validate the need for redistribution, as they disrupt the fairness of holdings.

His perspective emphasizes that a just society addresses historical wrongs rather than implementing ongoing redistributions based purely on equality or moral entitlement. This focus differentiates Nozick's views on justice in wealth distribution from more egalitarian theories, making his justification for wealth redistribution distinctly centered on the rectification of historical injustices rather than mere economic fairness or equality.