The Unfinished Project of Justice

Sor Juana's life ended without resolution—her intellectual projects incomplete, her conflicts with church authority unresolved. Yet this incompleteness does not diminish her work; it reflects the nature of justice itself as an unfinished project. Applied to animal ethics, this concept resists both despair and complacency. We will not achieve perfect animal liberation in our lifetime; systems of exploitation run deep. This should not paralyze but rather inspire ongoing commitment. Each generation must reconsider its moral obligations, refine its practices, and advance further. The concept also acknowledges that future thinkers will likely critique our current efforts—recognizing gaps we cannot yet see. Sor Juana models intellectual humility alongside conviction: holding firm commitments while remaining open to being wrong, incomplete, or inadequate. For animal advocacy, this means persisting despite setbacks, celebrating incremental progress, and mentoring others to continue work beyond our capabilities. It frames animal ethics not as a problem to be solved but as a dimension of justice requiring perpetual attention. Justice for animals is unfinished work, and that very incompleteness makes our participation necessary and meaningful.