TSJ Q&A: “Why Did the Stoics Get Their Metaphysics Wrong?” (Seneca: Letter #64 – On the Philosopher’s Task)

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Synopsis: Today is Friday, and you know what that means - it's another episode of TSJ Q&A! Here is today's question:

"Based purely on listening to your podcast and listening to the teachings of the Stoic thinkers, it’s evident that they were rational thinkers who utilized analytical thinking in their philosophy. However, as you say in your podcast, they had their own thoughts on metaphysics which we as Jews believe to be false. So I guess my question is: How do such intelligent people like the Stoics come to (what we would call) such false conclusions about how the world works from a metaphysical perspective? Can we chalk it all up to 'all humans are imperfect and subject to influence of their emotions and their surroundings'? It just seems rather paradoxical that the Stoics in particular, who seem to be able to filter out their emotions so well, would allow themselves to be influenced by emotions in the area of metaphysics."
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Sources:
- Saadia Gaon, Emunos v'Deos (The Book of Beliefs & Opinions), Introduction, Sections VI,II
- Seneca: Letter #64; click here to access the full text of Seneca's Letter
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Stoic texts:
The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
Letters from a Stoic Master (Seneca)
The Discourses of Epictetus
The Enchiridion (Handbook) of Epictetus
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