Intellectual Justice as Harm Prevention

Sor Juana's life exemplified how denial of intellectual rights constitutes a form of harm that institutional punishment cannot remedy. She argued that cultivating the mind—through reading, writing, and dialogue—builds societies where harm is less likely to occur. Rather than punishing ignorance or intellectual exclusion after harm manifests, restorative approaches recognize education as foundational prevention. Sor Juana demonstrated that when individuals are denied knowledge and voice, they cannot participate in justice-making. Her own intellectual suppression by ecclesiastical authorities illustrates how punitive systems silence those who might otherwise expose and correct injustice. A restorative framework centered on intellectual justice would prioritize expanding access to learning, ensuring marginalized voices contribute to understanding harm, and rebuilding trust through shared inquiry rather than coercive control.