Catch-22 is a famous anti-war novel written by Joseph Heller. In the book, a catch-22 refers to the law that allows soldiers to raid an Italian whorehouse. The very same law that gives them the right to make this intrusion also entitles them to conceal why they are raiding it in a first place, so the proprieter can never find out why it happened. This is compared to an earlier reference in the book, where a military policy requires that soldiers can only be discharged for insanity if they are both insane and ask for discharge. However, asking for discharge if you are insane is a sane act, so you cannot be insane. Therefore, getting a discharge for insanity is actually impossible.
A catch-22 is commonly misperceived to be a situation wherein both options are seen to have negative consequences. That situation is actually called a double-edged sword. A catch-22, as in the examples above, is a situation wherein the solution to a problem is impossible given the very nature of the problem.
A catch-22 is commonly misperceived to be a situation wherein both options are seen to have negative consequences. That situation is actually called a double-edged sword. A catch-22, as in the examples above, is a situation wherein the solution to a problem is impossible given the very nature of the problem.
My university has asked me to transfer because they expel anyone with a GPA under a 2.0, yet I cannot transfer because no other college will take an applicant with less than a 2.0! This policy is such a catch-22!
by LastGrammarian March 19, 2007
quite the predicament, where objective 1 cannot be obtained without the completion of objective 2, which cannot be obtained without objective 1, because of a set of often incoherent rules or laws
a catch 22:
what would happen if you went back in time to kill your grandfather?
if you were to do so, logic would state that you would not exist to go back in time and kill your grandfather, therefore you would exist because you would not be able to kill him, however you would exist only to kill your grandfather, in which case you would not exist
what would happen if you went back in time to kill your grandfather?
if you were to do so, logic would state that you would not exist to go back in time and kill your grandfather, therefore you would exist because you would not be able to kill him, however you would exist only to kill your grandfather, in which case you would not exist
by CSS December 21, 2005
The word Catch-22 was coined from the Joeseph Heller novel "Catch-22", a humorous satire about WWII pilots. Catch-22 is used when pilots try to get out of bombing duty. It is military law that anyone insane is allowed to be ejected from the army on honorary-leave. However, if the pilot asks to be ejected because he is insane, that shows personal concern for his own safety, and thusly he must not be insane, and connot leave. This ensured that all pilots could not get out of the military on charges of insanity. There are no other catches, just Catch-22.
Today, Cath-22 generally refers to:
1. A situation which will deal negative results no matter what choice is made.
2. The WWII book which deals with this catch and carries the same title.
3. The rock band
Today, Cath-22 generally refers to:
1. A situation which will deal negative results no matter what choice is made.
2. The WWII book which deals with this catch and carries the same title.
3. The rock band
1. "If I leave, my parents are going to kill me, but if I don't, my girlfriend will dump me. This is a real Catch-22."
2. You should read Catch-22 by Joeseph Heller. It's very funny.
3. I just saw Catch-22 live last night!
2. You should read Catch-22 by Joeseph Heller. It's very funny.
3. I just saw Catch-22 live last night!
by Gretel MK II September 02, 2005
A situtation where you have two possible choices, either of which while have negative ramifications for you.
There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.
"That's some catch, that Catch-22," he observed.
"It's the best there is," Doc Daneeka agreed.
"That's some catch, that Catch-22," he observed.
"It's the best there is," Doc Daneeka agreed.
by Khelek June 01, 2003
catch-22 has 3 definitions
1. A situation where both choices would have negative impacts on oneself.
2.An excellent and witty book about WWII
3.A extremely awesome ska band.
1. A situation where both choices would have negative impacts on oneself.
2.An excellent and witty book about WWII
3.A extremely awesome ska band.
one:Dude, what a catch-22 we're in!
two:did you read that excellent book, Catch-22 yet?
Three: Sweet man! I'm going to the Catch-22 concert this april!
two:did you read that excellent book, Catch-22 yet?
Three: Sweet man! I'm going to the Catch-22 concert this april!
by Rudycan't fail March 11, 2005
NO LICENSE===NO CAR===NO MONEY===YOU DON'T PAY FINES====YOU DON'T GET YOUR LICENSE BACK====NO LICENSE====NO MONEY=======...............and it goes on and on and on.
CATCH 22.
CATCH 22.
in New Jersey, DUI laws are like catch 22. They suspend your license after DUI and you have to pay around $4000 in fine. " Without license it's hard to make money, go to job, go to school. If you don't make money, how you gonna pay those big fines? So it's like this-----NO LICENSE===NO CAR===NO MONEY===YOU DON'T PAY FINES====YOU DON'T GET YOUR LICENSE BACK====NO LICENSE====NO MONEY=======...............and it goes on and on and on.
CATCH 22.
And New Jersey state doesn't allow Limited driving license for work or school after DUI.
CATCH 22.
And New Jersey state doesn't allow Limited driving license for work or school after DUI.
by friend of a victim. March 24, 2010
A catch-22 is not a situation in which both choices lead to undesirable outcomes. That is called a lose-lose or no-win situation. A catch-22 situation CAN be a lose-lose, but it could also be a win-win or win-lose.
A catch-22 situation is one in which the solution is impossible given the cyclic nature of the premises.
The logic is as follows:
1. If X, then Y and Z
2. If Y, then not Z
3. Not Y or not Z
4. Not Y and Z
5. Therefore, not X.
Many people use this logical terminology as commonplace vernacular while using it incorrectly and not understanding the origin.
A catch-22 situation is one in which the solution is impossible given the cyclic nature of the premises.
The logic is as follows:
1. If X, then Y and Z
2. If Y, then not Z
3. Not Y or not Z
4. Not Y and Z
5. Therefore, not X.
Many people use this logical terminology as commonplace vernacular while using it incorrectly and not understanding the origin.
1. If a person is excused from flying, that must be because he is both insane and requests an evaluation.
2. If a person is insane (I), he should not realize that he is, and would have no reason to request an evaluation.
3. Since an insane person would not request an evaluation, it follows that all people must either not be insane, or not request an evaluation.
4. Since all people must either not be insane, or not request an evaluation, it follows that no person is both insane and requests an evaluation.
5. Since a person may be excused from flying only if he is both insane and requests an evaluation, but no person can be both insane and request an evaluation, it (therefore) follows that no person can be excused from flying.
This is the logical argument and substituted form of a Catch-22.
2. If a person is insane (I), he should not realize that he is, and would have no reason to request an evaluation.
3. Since an insane person would not request an evaluation, it follows that all people must either not be insane, or not request an evaluation.
4. Since all people must either not be insane, or not request an evaluation, it follows that no person is both insane and requests an evaluation.
5. Since a person may be excused from flying only if he is both insane and requests an evaluation, but no person can be both insane and request an evaluation, it (therefore) follows that no person can be excused from flying.
This is the logical argument and substituted form of a Catch-22.
by LuxAndUmbra March 01, 2011