Intellectual Property as Personal Liberty

Sor Juana's relentless defense of her right to study, write, and publish despite institutional pressure exemplifies intellectual property as an inalienable liberty. She argued that the mind—and its productions—belong to the individual, not to state or church authorities. This concept treats creative output not merely as economic asset but as expression of personal autonomy. In Libertarian justice, protecting intellectual property rights becomes essential to preventing coercive seizure of one's thoughts, writings, or discoveries. Sor Juana's legacy demonstrates that true freedom requires the right to own what one's mind creates, defend that ownership against censorship, and benefit from one's intellectual labor. Without intellectual property rights, individuals remain servants to institutions that claim dominion over their consciousness itself.