The Right to Refuse Obedience

Sor Juana's famous refusal to abandon her scholarly pursuits despite ecclesiastical pressure exemplifies a libertarian principle often overlooked: the right to civil disobedience grounded in conscience. She did not merely comply with demands to renounce learning; she asserted her moral autonomy. For libertarian justice, this concept emphasizes that true freedom includes the right to say no—to reject property claims others make over your time, labor, and convictions. This isn't anarchism but a recognition that legitimate authority derives from consent, not coercion. When individuals possess the right to refuse obedience to unjust demands, they reclaim sovereignty over themselves and their property, making freedom not a gift from institutions but an inherent possession.