ertainly
not..."

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-splittings is meant, not a sound branch of learning like
philosophy....

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 Baha'i
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.

(15 February 1947 to an individual believer) [54]

From a Letter Written on Behalf of the Universal House of Justice

55: "In response to your letter of ... in which you seek guidance on
the..."

In response to your letter of ... in which you seek guidance on the
question of chosen professions vis-a-vis the statement of Baha'u'llah
concerning sciences which begin in words and end in mere words and the
pursuit of study in pure mathematics and the classics, the Universal House
of Justice has instructed us to share with you an excerpt from a letter to
an individual believer written in 1947 on behalf of the beloved Guardian:
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-splittings is meant, not a sound branch of learning like
philosophy.

In these words the Guardian has enunciated the general principle. Turning
to the specific instance of the science of pure mathematics, the reference
in the Eleventh Glad Tidings (Baha'i World Faith, p. 195) regarding such
sciences as are profitable, which lead and conduce to the elevation of
mankind,(2) must be placed in the context of the meaning of sciences as
employed by the Manifestation. Baha'u'llah's comment about sciences which
begin and end in mere words does not apply to the systematic study of
natural phenomena in order to discover the laws of order in the physical
universe, an order which mathematics seeks to explore. Pure mathematics
frequently has application in practical matters, such as, for example,
group theory or the study of fundamental particles.

As for classical studies, we