Final answer:
Wheeler et al. suggest that our moral intuitions are an evolutionary inheritance, offering empirical support against the simplicity of classic utilitarianism and deontology's definition of morality, and implying a more complex interplay with cultural and biological factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Wheeler et al. participate in the discussion surrounding the foundation of our moral judgments by suggesting that our moral intuitions are products of evolutionary processes, akin to other psychological capacities like language and mathematics.
They propose that our moral faculty, which affects our intuitive distinctions between right and wrong, reflects the evolution of our ancestors' social interactions over millions of years and is woven into our being, similar to physical traits like opposable thumbs.
This response engages with the moral argument by indirectly critiquing strict utilitarian and deontological perspectives. It suggests that our moral experiences may be far more complex and interwoven with our evolutionary biology than what classical moral theories like utilitarianism and deontology propose.
Moreover, Wheeler et al.'s position aligns with other philosophers who seek a more nuanced understanding of morality that transcends simplistic calculations of utility or rigid adherence to absolute rules.