Human existence is a combination of accident and design.

Although we live in a world mostly of our own making, it should be noted that some things are worthwhile which have not been designed. Design may central to any civilization, but it does not drive the entirety of our human experience.

Country roads in New England are still mostly accidents traveled today by cars and before that ...horses ...pre-european people on foot ...and in the more distant past, by deer and other wildlife who for reasons of utter happenstance first broke the trails along streams and through even ground between sloping hillsides.

When a road is built from scratch, or when an old road is widened and straightedged for some greater purpose, then it can be said that this is a matter of design -- there is inherent intent. And we seem to take comfort in any intent versus the uncertainties of happenstance.

Yet, in many places, happenstance serves us well, and under those circumstances (despite our misgivings) we tend to leave well-enough alone. The Hudson River. The Mississippi. The Oceans. All these have great utility, and except in minor ways, there is not much that can be done to improve their usefulness. They have been here since before the dawn of mankind. And they will still be here once we are all gone.