ABSTRACT
Most ancient and medieval philosophical commentaries are written versions of oral teaching, whether real or ideal. Teaching a philosophical text involves four tasks: making sure the pupils know what the text is about, presenting the main course of argumentation, providing solutions to questions of detail to ensure that the pupil understands every sentence, and discussing philosophical issues relevant to the text. Most of the techniques used by Western scholastic commentators are closely akin to ancient techniques, and many can be traced back to ancient practice via Anicius Manlius Boethius and other sources. The medieval Latins proceed with the rigour and ruthless efficiency of standardization so characteristic of Western culture, whereas the ancients are much more like old-fashioned craftsmen who never produce two identical pieces of work. Presenting the main course of argumentation is the task of the literal commentary, which in ancient times is basically a collection of scholia.
