Humans seem drawn to the most beautiful places. Our ancestors probably settled where life was easiest—that is, providing the most for life.

Then we make them easier for us to live there—a hut here, a path there, a well, a dock, a road, etc.

In other words, we’ve likely paved the most beautiful places on Earth.

Here’s Manhattan before and after.

Here are two pictures of Thailand jungles, then two pictures of Bangkok. The transformation seems what we do. Do we have to?

• ← I feel violated by what I just ate
• Amtrak torture →