@alrik
Yes, Philosophy was - according to what we know from the ancient times - the first science there is, because everything derived from there
untrue. First science are mathematics and antic physics. Philosophia Regina is an ontological view, not a chronological one. Even Plato was using mathematics to define the idea of science then afterwards he said than philosophy was closer to this idea than mathematics. But it is in a very particular order of things. Before Plato anyways history of philosophy is confused with history of esoteric mathematics (see pythagoricians) or esoteric physics (see Anaxamandros, Heraclit etc...)
@ Tsel
got me once again... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
In the Antiquity, Philosophy meant Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry and all sciences. They all formed the general subject of philosophy. The first mathematicians (Thales, Pythagoras) considered themselves philosophers- this is clearly mentioned in Diogene Laertios' letters and the dialogues of Cicero, inspired by the Greek lore. It is said that Pythagoras once met king Leon of the city of Philunte and he was asked what is his purpose in life. He responded: "To love wisdom (Philosophia means love of wisdom)" And he also mentions the way of the Philosopher- pure observation. All his mathematical theories serve as a basis of his ultimate purpose- to prove that number stands as the law of all things (and, once again, the study of principles means ontology and metaphysics- which are philosophical domains). As for Anaxagoras and Heraclit, they clearly state (once again) in their books, "About Nature", that the purpose of philosophy is "the study of the environment, of the things that flow". So, biology and physics are part of philosophy as well. That leaves philosophy the first and most important science of them all... The other ones emancipated themselves in the Aristotelic and post-Aristotelic period. So, the history of Mathematics, Physics, etc. is confounded with the one of Philosophy, and not viceversa.
