2007-09-14 04:00:23 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
catch 22 is "damned if you do, damned if you don't"
conundrum by definition is a riddle.
2007-09-14 04:10:25 · answer #1 · answered by Tamara 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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"
2007-09-14 11:11:20 · answer #2 · answered by johnslat 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Catch 22:
1. a frustrating situation in which one is trapped by contradictory regulations or conditions.
2. any illogical or paradoxical problem or situation; dilemma.
3. a condition, regulation, etc., preventing the resolution of a problem or situation; catch.
Conundrum:
1. a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play on words, as What is black and white and read all over? A newspaper.
2. anything that puzzles.
2007-09-14 11:09:23 · answer #3 · answered by yotg 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a catch 22 is a situation in which you are a victim regardless of which choice you make, similar to "Heads I win, Tails you lose". A conundrom is an unsolvable or difficult problem or dilemna.
2007-09-14 11:13:51 · answer #4 · answered by David B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's one of my favorite books! :-)
2007-09-14 14:33:03 · answer #5 · answered by Bull Goose Loony 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋