Here Plato distinguishes between the material world we live in and the perfect world of eternal forms. This world of ideal forms is not to be thought of as a separate reality or state of mind, but rather a blueprint by which objects in the material world are created. These various assertions are best characterized by Plato's allegorical "Cave" described in The Republic. The slaves working deep underground never dare to journey upward and see the light, but prefer by choice, fear, or habit to stay down and see only the shadows of the forms which the light projects on the wall. The shadows can best be thought of as images hinting at the "truth" or eternal forms beyond our comprehension. It is only those elite individuals driven by thirst for knowledge and truth, who will journey upwards toward the light and ultimately are able to see the true forms of things. The allegory reinforces the argument that although we see the images the shadows cast on the wall, we do not actually see them. Plato draws from this, that our senses(sight) can not be trusted in observation and concludes that reason is the only means of achieving absolute truth. The ability to see the true forms of things is a the central concept in establishing who will be the ruling power in Plato's kalliopolis. .
Socrates and Plato's first issue was to consider the plausibility of forming an ideal city-state, and once determined to be possible, the next task ahead would be to chose a government which would rule justly and firmly. Their conversation leads to the question of why people would desire to form a state and adhere to its rules, in which Plato replies, that it is not man's desire to form a state, but rather his unavoidable need. He supports this claim by arguing two points: 1.) men are not self-sufficient so they need to live in an organized society 2.) each "person has a natural aptitude for a specific task and should concentrate on developing it" for the good of the state.
