Sam
Are "vicious cycle" and "Catch-22" similar to each other?
Aug 15, 2011 8:22 PM
Answers · 2
They are somewhat similar in that they convey something negative, but definitely not the same. Vicious cycle: Problem A leads to problem B. Problem B then makes A worse. And so on... Classic example: One tribe kills a member of another tribe. The second tribe takes revenge by killing a member of the first tribe. The first tribe takes revenge again... Catch-22 Result C depends on conditions A and B, but A and B are totally contradictory and cannot happen together. Original Catch 22: Yosarian (the main character) wants to get out of flying because he says he is crazy. But first, he must ask to be let out of flying. But, according to Catch-22, if he asks to be let out of flying, he must be sane, not crazy.
August 15, 2011
not quite but similar. Catch 22 usually refers to a single choice where you can't really pick a good outcome. Vicious circle is more of an ongoing situation which continues to get worse, like eating makes you fat, being fat makes you depressed and being depressed makes you eat.
August 15, 2011
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