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
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
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
The only way to be dismissed from the military is to be crazy and to ask to be dismissed. Catch-22 states that if you ask to be dismissed from the military, you are not crazy. Catch-22 meant so much more than that, it was the excuse used for every insane order that the officers would give to the troops, was used for every justification. The best definition of Catch-22 is what the old women told Yossarian when he returned to Italy to search for Nately's whore. She told him MPs had come into the whorehouse and arrested everyone, and as justification they had used Catch-22. She then said "Catch-22 means they are allowed to do anything that you can't stop them from doing." There are not 21 other catches, Catch-22 is the only catch that is ever needed.
There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind... 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.
by anon November 05, 2004
A "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation, where there is no right choice. See: Kobayashi Maru.
Being White is a Catch-22. If you participate in a different culture, that's cultural appropriation... but if you don't, you're not being inclusive. If you move into an urban area, you're part of the gentrification problem... but if you move out of an urban area, you're part of the "white flight" problem. If you don't pay attention to skin color, you're ignoring racism... but if you do, you're racist. There is no right choice.
by Straight White Homeschooling D December 04, 2020
by IrishRepublicanArmy February 08, 2004