I thought Plato tried to use observations and logic in order to identify facts from which to build his arguments on. That is how I remember it when I read Plato.
I will respond in the Socratic method of teaching: "How many of these posters do you all think are full of crap and never read Plato and are just trying to show off for their Internet friends?" I kid! I kid because I love... Seriously you guys are great. (I know that sounded ironic but that's just because once I flip the irony switch I just can't get it shut back down!!)
I read The Republic and a few conversations in his Dialogues. No expert, but familiar enough to know Plato was concerned with truth and facts as a Greek in 300 BC would understand them.