An (historical) example of a teleological argument in science:
"But, other things being equal, the planets that are nearer to the sun are also denser; for example Jupiter is denser than Saturn, and the earth is denser than Jupiter. The planets, of course, had to be set at different distances from the sun so that each one might, according to the degree of its density, enjoy a greater or smaller amount of heat from the sun. If the earth were located in the orbit of Saturn, our water would freeze; in the orbit of Mercury, it would immediately go off in a vapour. For the light of the sun, to which its heat is proportional, is seven times denser in the orbit of Mercury than on earth, and I have with a thermometer that water boils at seven times the heat of the summer sun. And there is no doubt that the matter of the planet Mercury is adapted to its heat and therefore is denser than this matter of our earth, since all denser matter requires a greater heat for the performance of the operations of nature."
his earth
Isaac Newton (1999) Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (3rd edition, 1726): The authoritative translation (I. Bernard Cohen and Anne Whitman), University of California Press
Newton argues that the planets are organised in the solar system with the densest being nearer the sun, because denser matter requires more heating to give the same effects. This model sees planetary density decrease with the increasing orbit, which can be considered an alternative conception (e.g., Uranus is more dense than Saturn; and Neptune more dense than Uranus)
Therefore, Newton predicts, Mercury being nearer the Sun would be more dense that Earth (it is actually slightly less dense than earth – but Mercury, Venus and Earth have similar densities). This is a teleological argument as it assumes purpose in nature, i.e., that earth is deliberately located such that water here will be liquid.
Read about teleology in science
Read examples of teleological (pseudo)explanations for scientific phenomena
Read about types of pseudo-explanations
