ABSTRACT
Suppose that a characteristic which should be morally irrelevant (e.g., race, creed, or sex) has been treated as if it were morally relevant over a period of years, and that injustices have resulted from this. When such a mistake has been recognized and condemned, when the morally irrevelant characteristic has been seen to be irrelevant, can this characteristic then properly be used as a relevant consideration in the distribution of reparations to those who have suffered injustices? If we answer this question in the affirmative, we will have the strange consequence that a morally irrelevant characteristic can become morally relevant if its use results in injustices.
