Knowledge as Economic Sovereignty

Sor Juana's insistence on education and literacy was not merely academic—it was economic rebellion. In her era, controlling who could read and write meant controlling who could own property, negotiate contracts, and participate in commerce. Knowledge as economic sovereignty recognizes that ignorance is enforced poverty. In libertarian justice terms, denying someone education denies them the tools to claim their property rights, negotiate freely, and escape dependence. Sor Juana's philosophy suggests that true economic freedom requires universal access to knowledge and learning. This concept reframes education not as charity but as foundational to property rights themselves. Communities that restrict knowledge restrict freedom; those that democratize information enable genuine economic self-determination and autonomous decision-making about resources and life paths.