The allegory presents the philosopher as the one who has escaped the cave and seen the true reality. A key question is what happens next. The philosopher's duty is to return to the cave to share his knowledge and free others. But what happens when he returns? The prisoners, used to the darkness, are unable to see the truth and may even resent and kill the one who tries to enlighten them.

How do we gain knowledge of Forms? If Forms are not perceptible by the senses, how can humans come to know them? (This often leads to discussions of recollection/anamnesis, reason, and the dialectic).