Knowledge as Property Defense

Sor Juana wielded theological and philosophical knowledge as her primary defense against institutional control. When church authorities challenged her right to intellectual work, she deployed sophisticated arguments grounded in scripture and logic. Knowledge becomes a form of property in the sense that it is a resource you own that protects other property and freedoms. A person ignorant of contract law, property rights, or legal procedure is vulnerable to exploitation and theft. Libertarian justice requires that individuals can access knowledge sufficient to understand and defend their interests. Sor Juana's erudition was not merely personal achievement; it was a claim that women's intellectual capacity must be recognized as a resource they possess and control. Her letters and replies demonstrate knowledge as practical power—the ability to argue, persuade, and resist authority.