Final answer:
The claim that ethics does not involve moral duty and obligations is false; ethics is deeply intertwined with moral principles and is a major part of the philosophy dedicated to understanding concepts of right and wrong behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that ethics represents a set of principles prescribing a behavioral code that does not include moral duty and obligations is false. Ethics is indeed concerned with moral principles that dictate a person's actions and behaviors. It is a discipline within philosophy focused on systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior, and it provides the groundwork for moral rules.
Normative ethics, a branch of ethics, concentrates on what we should do, thus dealing with human agency, responsibility, and moral evaluation. It sets criteria for identifying norms and standards of moral conduct. Philosophers utilize normative ethics to provide standardized accounts of morality to steer individuals toward right actions.
Metaethics, another branch, delves into moral reasoning and foundational questions regarding the nature and origin of moral values, and examines if moral claims have an objective reality or are based on subjective perceptions. It is a discussion of ethical theories and language, exploring the psychological and cultural underpinnings of our moral practices and judgments.