Philosophy, The Socratic Method and Zen Buddhist Koans

In the Allegory of the Cave, Socrates suggests that, without philosophical education we are all like prisoners in a cave. I am in agreement with this. Some may consider Socrates belief of philosophical education to be pessimistic. I do not believe that Socrates was expecting the worst from the people of Athens by asking them to think and to question. If for example the United States did not take time to consider or inquire about such subjects such as basic human rights we would still have slaves, women could not vote and only a conservative white man would be able to hold public office just to name a few. The definition of philosophy is: "the rational investigation of the truths and principals of being, knowledge, or conduct" (dictionary.com). Without this we are stuck like the prisoners in Socrates' Allegory of the Cave. We stay with what we know and what makes us feel safe and comfortable instead of challenging ourselves to think about the fundamentals of basic human rights. Individuals need to constantly reinvent themselves in order for natural development and evolution to occur. Societies are no different. How do we do this? We begin with Philosophical Education and with this we can progress to more civilized ways of being.
There are several ways to approach philosophical education or 'enlightenment.' One way is the Socaratic Method. In The Allegory of the Cave Socrates demonstrates the Socratic method by giving an example of an image to his student which provokes the student to ask questions about reality. I have studied Zen Buddhism since 2006 and am quickly finding parallels of the Socratic Method with that of Zen. One example is that a Zen student receives a Koan from the Roshi in Dokusan while in meditation practice. The student takes this Koan or riddle back to their meditation practice and ponders on it. This could take from one hour of sitting up to years of sitting for understanding or enlightenment of the koan to occur. Understanding the Koan may allow one to experience reality in a different way by the realization of delusions or false beliefs that cannot be modified by facts. Once the Roshi feels you have understood the Koan, you move on to the next and the next and the next. Enlightenment or education is endless and comes about only in the "readiness of time" (Eido Roshi).
I am certain that there are many other forms of philosophical education or enlightenment that I am not aware of and I am open to hearing any other views and responses on this. I find other views stimulating to the mind and spirit and am confident that good people of any race or faith are all in search of the same truth and harbor the same relativity at its root.