Catch-22 (logic)

A Catch-22 is a paradoxical situation from which an individual cannot escape because of contradictory rules or limitations. The term originates from Joseph Heller's 1961 novel Catch-22, where it denotes a military rule whereby a pilot requesting to be excused from combat flight because of insanity demonstrates his sanity in making the request, thus disqualifying him.

More broadly, a Catch-22 refers to any situation where a person needs something that can only be obtained by not needing it. It represents a circular predicament where the solution is inherently blocked by the problem itself. The contradiction arises from the fact that the conditions to solve the problem simultaneously preclude the solution.

Catch-22s are often frustrating and seemingly inescapable, highlighting the absurdity of certain bureaucratic rules, social conventions, or logical inconsistencies. They frequently involve requirements that are inherently self-defeating or impossible to fulfill. They expose inherent flaws in a system, often revealing a deep structural paradox.