what is a" catch 22" and what is a conundrom or difference between the two?

Answer 1

No the others are incorrect.
Catch 22: something that can't be done because it hasn't yet been done.
example: you can't get a job unless you have experience but you can't get experience unless you have the job.

Conundrum: a self-negating or self perpetuating situation.
example 1: if you don't control your thoughts, your thoughts will control you.
example 2: enlightenment can only be achieved by those who don't seek it.

Answer 2

"Catch 22" was the title of a book in which the protagonist found himself in a conundrum about how to get out of the army. Thus it became a popular expression to describe conundrums of the human condition.
Conundrum is a condition in which neither outcomes are acceptable or valid answers. Examples:
1. Iraq - If we leave we cause chaos, increase freedom for terrorist training and loose face as well as influence in the Middle East oil dealings (which is a national security issue for now). If we stay we are the reason for chaos, increase terror recruiting and waste tons of funds and lives as well as continuously drive the price of oil higher. I know to some there is a clear choice on this example, but the nations as a whole has none. So it is a national conundrum!
2. Some marine animals swim much faster than the phisics of their mechanics and energy applied would explain. Bending neither side of the equasion satisfies scientists. A science conundrum...!
3. When or at what point should a developing baby in the womb be legally considered as being alive and having its own rights. Besides faith, there is nothing to guide us that can truly define this question. Unless we settle to something for functioning purposes. Regardless of what I or anyone else may fell about it, it is a social conundrum.

Defining some conditions as conundrums can also be a conundrum when considering social issues... lol!!! A large part of philosophy is applied in the attempt to solve conundrums.

Note: Except for JohnSlat and I, people answering have not read the book by Joseph Heller titled Catch 22, which coinend the expression. It shows the conundrum of a specific type of condition of human life for a soldier in WW2 trying to avoid combat duty. It has nothing to do with never before done...!!!

Answer 3

From the great novel by Joseph Heller, here is the original "Catch-22":

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 he 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.

In short, Catch-22 is "heads I win, tails you lose." If you can, you can't, and if you can't, you can. Fair is foul and foul is fair. Whenever you try to behave sensibly in a crazy world, there's a catch."

whereas a conundrum is:

"Main Entry:co·nun·drum
Pronunciation:k&-'n&n-dr&m
Function:noun
Etymology:origin unknown
1 : a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun
2 a : a question or problem having only a conjectural answer b : an intricate and difficult problem"

Answer 4

a catch 22 is a situation wherein one thing should take place first for the 2nd thing to happen, but since the first thing does not happen, then the 2nd thing can't happen

a conundrum is a puzzling question or a riddle with a pun as an answer so it's not the same as catch 22

catch 22 doesn't necessarily mean it's a question, either

Answer 5

a catch 22, means no matter which decision you make in a circumstance, there will be some negatvie result. A conundrum is essentially the same thing, but may just mean 2 difficult choices, no necessarily negative results.

Answer 6

Example of a catch 22

You need experience to get hired, you need to get hired to get experience.

A Catch 22 and a Conundrum are the same thing.

Answer 7

conundrom is a difficult choice, catch-22 is a special type of difficult choice, where both options have disadvantages but both also have irrestible temptation.