Comm. NT: 4. Paṭisambhidā is usually rendered by “analysis” (see e.g. Points of Controversy— Kathāvatthu translation—pp. 377ff). But the Tipiṭaka explanations of the four paṭisambhidā suggest no emphasis on analysis rather than synthesis. Vism-mhṭ gives the following definition of the term:
Paññāpabhedakathāvaṇṇanā
Knowledge that is classified (pabheda-gata = put into a division) under meaning (attha) as capable of effecting the explanation and definition of specific characteristics of the meaning class (meaning division) is called attha-paṭisambhidā;
and so with the other three
“Discrimination” has been chosen for paṭisambhidā because, while it has the sense of “division,” it does not imply an opposite process as “analysis” does. Also it may be questioned whether the four are well described as “entirely logical”: “entirely epistemological” might perhaps be both less rigid and nearer; for they seem to cover four interlocking fields, namely: meanings of statements and effects of causes (etc.), statements of meanings and causes of effects (etc.), language as restricted to etymological rules of verbal expression, and clarity (or perspicuous inspiration) in marshalling the other three.