Catch-22 的词源

来自约瑟夫·海勒1961年小说的标题，但这个短语在1970年基于该书的电影发行后变得广泛流行。catch（名词）的含义是，如果轰炸机飞行员在未请求解除任务的情况下飞行作战任务，则他是精神失常的，因此有资格被解除任务。但请求解除任务表明理智，因此他必须继续飞行任务。

该小说的第一章最初发表于1955年的《New World Writing》第7期，标题为“Catch-18”。当小说被西蒙与舒斯特出版时，名称被更改，以避免与莱昂·乌里斯的书《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.

只有一个陷阱，那就是Catch-22，它规定在面对真实和迫在眉睫的危险时，关注自身安全的过程是理性思维的表现。奥尔是疯狂的，可以被停职。他只需请求；一旦他请求，他就不再疯狂，必须飞更多的任务。奥尔飞更多的任务是疯狂的，不飞则是理智的，但如果他理智则必须飞。如果他飞了，他是疯狂的，不必飞；但如果他不想飞，他是理智的，必须飞。约萨里安被这个Catch-22条款的绝对简单性深深打动，发出了尊敬的口哨声。

“这是个陷阱，Catch-22，”他观察道。

“这是最好的，”丹尼卡医生同意道。