Forked Roads

Yogi Berra passed yesterday. He famously stated 'when you come to a fork in the road, take it.

A number of philosophers have used the forked road metaphor to explore the human decision making process. For John Dewey it served as a metaphor that evoked the act of thinking itself:

A man traveling in an unfamiliar region comes to a branching of the roads. Having no sure knowledge to fall back upon, he is brought to a standstill of hesitation and suspense. Which road is right? And how shall perplexity be resolved? There are but two alternatives: he must either blindly and arbitrarily take his course, trusting to luck for the outcome, or he must discover grounds for the conclusion that a given road is right. 

Thinking begins in what may fairly enough be called a forked-road situation, a situation which is ambiguous, which presents a dilemma, which proposes alternatives. As long as our activity glides smoothly along from one thing to another, or as long as we permit our imagination to entertain fancies at pleasure, there is no call for reflection. Difficulty or obstruction in the way of reaching a belief brings us, however, to a pause. 

Reflective thinking is always more or less troublesome because it involves overcoming the inertia that inclines one to accept suggestions at their face value; it involves willingness to endure a condition of mental unrest and disturbance.Reflective thinking, in short, means judgment suspended during further inquiry; and suspense is likely to be somewhat painful. As we shall see later, the most important factor in the training of good mental habits consists in acquiring the attitude of suspended conclusion, ....... To maintain the state of doubt and to carry on systematic and protracted inquiry—these are the essentials of thinking.

Dewey, John (2012-12-12). The Essential John Dewey Collection. Kindle Edition.

I see a lot of overlap here with the 2nd inner chapter of the Zhuangzi which argues argues against a fixed heart-mind (and for suspended conclusions). It suggests:

‘Allowing both alternatives to proceed’ &
‘remaining at rest at the center of the spontaneous potter’s wheel’ or at the 'pivot of the way'  - & 

‘Thus the Sage sees by the glimmer of chaos and doubt. He does not affirm of anything: “this is it”; his affirmation is lodged in ordinary practice. This is to view things in the light.

I think it is more fruitful to consider ethical dilemmas from a practical problem solving perspective as opposed to searching for absolute foundations. I think if we earnestly apply ourselves to life in the manner suggested above we can make ethical progress.