Transgressive Reading as Intellectual Property

Sor Juana accumulated an extraordinary private library despite—or because of—Church restrictions on books. She read widely across prohibited and dangerous authors, theology beyond her station, and science that challenged orthodoxy. Reading itself was an act of property assertion: the books were hers, and her interpretations belonged to her alone. In libertarian justice, this reflects the principle that access to information and the freedom to think through ideas are foundational property rights. Banning books, restricting libraries, or punishing unauthorized reading are property violations: they deny individuals ownership of the intellectual tools they need to form their own judgment. Sor Juana's transgressive reading—her refusal to accept institutional gatekeeping of knowledge—shows that intellectual freedom depends on the right to choose one's sources and interpretations. This is especially crucial in hierarchical societies where authorities try to control thought by controlling information. The property right to read what you choose is a prerequisite for all other libertarian freedoms.