Full Idea
The god created the sun to illuminate as much of the universe as it could, and to enable all suitably endowed creatures to become numerate by studying the revolution of identity and sameness.
Gist of Idea
The sun was made for light, so we could learn numbers from astronomical movement
Source
Plato (Timaeus [c.362 BCE], 39b)
Book Reference
Plato: 'Timaeus and Critias', ed/tr. Waterfield,Robin [OUP 2008], p.27
A Reaction
Note that the sun has a specific purpose. All numbers are Forms, and are therefore eternal, the learning of numbers is empirical. It is regular movement (rather than quantities) which reveals number.
Related Idea
Idea 24227 One and one can only become two by sharing in Twoness [Plato]