The Knowledge Commons vs. Enclosure

Sor Juana drew from centuries of theological, philosophical, and scientific tradition—the commons of human knowledge—yet faced pressure to withhold her own contributions from public circulation. This tension illuminates a Libertarian problem: how do we honor both the commons (shared inheritance that enables individual growth) and individual property rights (the creator's claim to benefit from their work)? Sor Juana's solution was generous—she published widely, shared her learning, yet insisted on recognition and the right to continue her inquiries. In modern terms, this resists both pure enclosure (private monopoly that prevents others from building on ideas) and pure commons (the demand that creators surrender all claim to their output). Libertarian justice here means protecting individual property rights while respecting that all knowledge builds on predecessors. Sor Juana's example suggests the answer: creators own their work and can share it freely if they choose, but no one—not Church, not state, not collective—can commandeer it.