Catch-22 的詞源

來自約瑟夫·海勒1961年的小說標題，但這個短語在1970年基於該書拍攝的電影上映後變得廣泛流行。catch (n.) 的問題是，如果轟炸機飛行員在不要求解除職務的情況下飛行作戰任務，他就是瘋子，因此他有資格被解除職務。但要求解除職務表明理智，因此他必須繼續飛行任務。

小說的第一章最初於1955年在 New World Writing 第7期中發表，標題為 "Catch-18." 當小說被西蒙與舒斯特公司出版時，名稱被更改以避免與李昂·尤里斯的書籍 Mila 18 混淆。

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.

只有一個問題，那就是 Catch-22，這規定了在面對真實和迫在眉睫的危險時，關心自己安全的過程是理性思維的表現。奧爾瘋了，可以被停職。他所要做的就是請求；一旦他這麼做，他就不再瘋狂，必須飛更多的任務。奧爾飛更多任務是瘋狂的，如果不飛則是理智的，但如果他理智則必須飛。如果他飛了，他是瘋狂的，不必飛；但如果他不想飛，他是理智的，必須飛。約薩連對這條 Catch-22 條款的絕對簡單性感到非常震驚，並發出了一聲尊敬的口哨聲。

"那真是一個問題，Catch-22，" 他觀察到。

"這是最好的，" 丹尼卡醫生同意道。