The following is taken from The Statesman (278a), a Platonic dialogue. It provides an effective way to communicate your ideas through the use of examples. It begins with the Stranger saying that it is best to use example to communicate your ideas.
"The higher ideas, my dear friend, can hardly be set forth except through the medium of examples; every man seems to know all things in a dreamy sort of way, and then again to wake up and to know nothing."
He says when children learn their syllables they pick up things quickly by first concentrating on short and simple syllables. Once they have accomplished this they can use these examples to figure out the correct answers to more complicated syllable structures. This is proof that using simple examples can aid in describing complex ideas. The Stranger says;
" To refer them first of all to cases in which they judge correctly about the letters in question, and then to compare these with the cases in which they do not as yet know, and to show them that the letters are the same, and have the same character in both combinations, until all cases in which they are right have been placed side by side with all cases in which they are wrong. In this way they have examples, and are made to learn that each letter in every combination is always the same and not another, and is always called by the same name"
We can use this train of thought to help describe ourselves and new ideas. The Stranger says;
"We take a thing and compare it with another distinct instance of the same thing, of which we have a right conception, and out of the comparison there arises one true notion, which includes both of them".
One sees Plato using this technique often in his dialogues. It's especially important when trying to explain the true reality that he says exists. He has the Stranger say in The Statesman say;
"Can we wonder, then, that the soul/mind has the same uncertainty about the alphabet of things, and sometimes and in some cases is firmly fixed by the truth in each particular, and then, again, in other cases not having the slightest clue; having somehow or other a correct notion of combination's; but when the elements are transferred into the long and difficult language (syllables) of facts, is again ignorant of them?
Now you can make sure to include simple examples when trying to explain complex ideas to your kids, spouse and work colleagues. If it worked for Plato, hopefully it will work for you.
