Final answer:
True, laws often embody and enforce the customs, ideals, beliefs, and moral values of a society, reflecting and shaping the social and cultural norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that law codifies customs, ideals, beliefs, and a society's moral values is largely true. Laws are often rooted in the social fabric of a society, reflecting its norms, mores, and cultural rules. For instance, the Roman legal system established precedents and the revolutionary concept that one is innocent until proven guilty, showing how laws can both reflect and shape societal values.
Sociologist Emile Durkheim articulated that social facts, which include laws, morals, and values, are key to understanding the functioning of a society. These social facts dictate various functions, such as protecting the public from violence and preserving health. Moreover, mores, which are strong societal norms with moral significance, can be reinforced by laws, showing how deeply intertwined laws are with moral views.