The Right to Knowledge as Justice

Sor Juana fought institutional barriers that denied women access to learning, recognizing that knowledge monopolies enable corruption. When rulers control who knows what, they control power. Fighting corruption requires democratizing information: public records, educational access, transparent processes. Corruption thrives in darkness and ignorance—when citizens lack information, they cannot hold institutions accountable. Sor Juana's insistence on women's intellectual capacity challenged systems that benefited from restricted knowledge. Modern anti-corruption frameworks build on this: freedom of information laws, whistleblower protections, public education. The right to know is the right to defend yourself against exploitation. By making knowledge accessible across society, we distribute the power to identify and resist corruption. Justice requires that no group is systematically excluded from understanding the systems affecting their lives.