Considering the Nature as Having Goals and its Role in the Argument from Design from Anthony Kenny's Point of View

Teleological researches about the world of nature provided the ground for different interpretations of the argument from design. By emphasizing purposefulness or the nature as having goals, Anthony Kenny has a major contribution in the development of analytical Thomism. With an analytical-critical method, we intend in this research to answer this question: How can we evaluate Kenny's claims about the teleology of nature and its effect on the premises of the argument from design? From Kenny's point of view, purposefulness means the tendency of living beings to do things to achieve profit or avoid loss. He believes that argument from design takes an unsuccessful step from the goal to the designer through design. The findings of the research show that Kenny’s interpretation of nature’s purposefulness is not philosophical. Also, attributing purposefulness only to beneficial living beings is not acceptable, and purposefulness is not limited to value matters such as benefit or loss. The author is in agreement with Anthony Kenny in distinguishing between the concept of design and the goal and the premises of the argument from design not being tautological.