Counterposition of Determinism and Determination
One finds it difficult to imagine that, given the apparent complexity of the world gestalt, serendipity and irony can occur in the absence of some sort of guiding hand. Thus, a deterministic outlook would seem to be a rational source of moral guidance. However, the adherence to such a notion might provide more discouragement than motivation. The tension between a focused progression towards clearly-defined goals within an environment that can be externally adjusted merits consideration.
Firstly, it is beneficial to clarify the roles determinism and determination play within daily existence. More than anything else, they are the religion or philosophy which keep us going when our memorized patterns of behavior are incapable of doing so. Most of our actions are correlated to some routine, but whenever we suffer a setback or have to reconsider our course through life, we fall back on some sort of moral backbone, consciously or unconsciously. Thus, it is either our willingness to have faith that all will work out for the best or our insatiable desire to complete a task which will provide the necessary impetus.
Given that some sort of fundamental faith, in either ourselves or some outside influence, always exists, opting to believe that the world is guided by a sentient entity is an attractive choice. The incredible precision visible throughout modern society in and of itself is sufficient evidence for such a belief. In addition, the preponderance of irony in daily life may further prove the existence of this phenomenon. Granting credence to determinism could serve as an anodyne in difficult times, as the will of an incontrovertible external being is beyond the control of humankind. It can also serve to help us maintain equanimity during times of extreme good fortune, as we would have to realize that such conditions are not due entirely to our own efforts and may thus be subject to change suddenly.
However, the deterministic worldview can be construed as a rather lurid one. The notion that, regardless of how much we exert ourselves, our fate is ultimately determined by some other being might render our efforts pointless. Such a demoralizing effect of this belief may cause a reactionary adoption of humanistic principles which make the will of the individual the final arbiter determining success or failure. Given the exponential number of ties between individuals and organizations in any center of population, these beliefs may seem self-indulgent. However, at the very least, they provide a positive reinforcement to right onesself in the heat of the moment. Determinism, on the other hand, may lead an adherent down the path of resignation.
Observing the currents of daily life, it seems difficult to completely renounce either side of the argument. Without some flexibility stemming from a deterministic outlook, an individual becomes an obstinate outsider who cannot bear to be a part of something he is not the prime mover of. Without some sense of the individual, a person compromises his identity to an evanescent image imposed by society. Thus, preliminary observations suggest that we are resigned to deal with the tension and allow these viewpoints to coexist.