Read the excerpt from an analysis of 17th-century Mexican literature:
'In her celebrated 1691 epistle, the Respuesta a Sor Filotea de la Cruz, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz constructs a rigorous defense of women's intellectual autonomy. Rather than adopting a purely emotional plea, she marshals erudite scriptural precedents, patristic authorities, and classical historical figures. Sor Juana demonstrates that secular learning—including mathematics, logic, and natural philosophy—does not subvert theological understanding but constitutes an indispensable scaffold for comprehending sacred scripture.'
What is Sor Juana's central argument regarding secular learning as presented in this analysis?
- ASecular studies are entirely incompatible with religious piety and must be replaced by pr…
- BKnowledge of natural sciences and philosophy provides necessary intellectual foundations…
- CWomen should focus exclusively on domestic theology rather than secular philosophy.
- DClassical pagan authors should replace scriptural authorities in colonial institutions.