February 15. On this date in 1947, Shoghi Effendi addressed a letter to a British Bahá'í, in reference to questions raised concerning the historical accuracy of statements by Bahá’u’lláh and 'Abdu’l-Bahá', such as a specific passage in the Lawḥ-i-Ḥikmat regarding Empedocles and Pythagoras being contemporaries of David and Solomon, admitting that "We have no historical proof of the truth of the Master's statement regarding the Greek philosophers visiting the Holy Land."

 

February 15. On this date in 1947, Shoghi Effendi addressed a letter (also referenced here and here) to a British Bahá'í, in reference to questions raised concerning the historical accuracy of statements by Bahá’u’lláh and 'Abdu’l-Bahá', such as a specific passage in the Lawḥ-i-Ḥikmat regarding Empedocles and Pythagoras being contemporaries of David and Solomon, admitting that "We have no historical proof of the truth of the Master's statement regarding the Greek philosophers visiting the Holy Land."

15 February 1947

Philosophy, as you will study it and later teach it, is certainly not one of the sciences that begins and ends in words. Fruitless excursions into metaphysical hair-splitting is meant, not a sound branch of learning like philosophy.

We have no historical proof of the truth of the Master's statement regarding the Greek philosophers visiting the Holy Land, etc. but such proof may come to light through research in the future.

As regards your own studies: he would advise you not to devote too much of your time to the abstract side of philosophy, but rather to approach it from a more historical angle. As to correlating philosophy with the Bahá'í teachings; this is a tremendous work which scholars in the future can undertake. We must remember that not only are all the teachings not yet translated into English, but they are not even all collected yet. Many important Tablets may still come to light which are at present owned privately.