The idea that once a path is taken, one cannot go back and take the other path is called "
counterfactual logic" or logic that is "
counter to fact" as in not the path taken in reality.
Humans tend to reason in counterfactual logic as in terms of "
what if" questions and thoughts.
Spreadsheets became popular as a tool with which to ask "
what if" questions for planning and forecasting.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) makes this a part of his Narnia series of novels in that once a choice is made, one cannot go back nor see what would have happened.