Sovereignty of Conscience in Property Claims

Sor Juana's conflict with religious authorities centered on a fundamental libertarian principle: no institution can rightfully claim dominion over conscience or its expressions. Her refusal to accept that the Church could dictate what she should think, write, or study asserts conscience as sovereign territory. In libertarian terms, your conscience is property you own absolutely—no government, church, or collective can legitimately seize it. This concept applies directly to property and freedom because consent, the foundation of legitimate authority, flows from conscientious choice. When we recognize sovereignty of conscience, we acknowledge that property rights begin with the most intimate possession: your own thoughts and values. This makes libertarian justice not merely about economic freedom but about existential autonomy rooted in thought itself.