The Right to Know as Justice

Sor Juana's assertion of women's right to learn and participate in knowledge-making reflects a deeper principle: that access to information is a justice issue. Corruption thrives in secrecy and information asymmetry; those kept ignorant cannot hold power accountable. Fighting corruption requires establishing the right to know as non-negotiable—transparency in government finances, procurement processes, and decision-making. This sophos tradition reframes transparency not merely as good governance practice but as a human right rooted in dignity. When people are systematically denied information about how power operates, they cannot exercise citizenship fully. By making information accessible—through public records, citizen oversight bodies, and whistleblower protections—societies honor the principle that knowledge belongs to the community. Sor Juana's struggle for intellectual access illuminates why information freedom is inseparable from anticorruption work and justice itself.