Intellectual Property as Self-Ownership

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz fought throughout her life for the right to intellectual autonomy—to think, write, and publish without ecclesiastical or patriarchal interference. In libertarian justice, intellectual property flows directly from self-ownership: if you own yourself, you own the fruits of your mind. Sor Juana's fierce defense of her right to study theology, philosophy, and science—despite pressure to abandon learning for convent duties—demonstrates that freedom of thought precedes and grounds property rights. Her work shows that denying a person's intellectual sovereignty denies their fundamental freedom. For libertarian frameworks, Sor Juana's example proves that property rights in ideas are not granted by institutions but are inherent expressions of human dignity and autonomy. Protecting intellectual freedom becomes protecting the person.