Is It Enough (or Even Permissible) to be a Professional Philosopher?

We all know that Plato thought that once one has been liberated from the cave, learned that the world is more than images, come to to understand the forms and, finally, experienced the Good, it is one's responsibility to go back into the cave and rescue the unfortunate prisoners still inside. In Plato's mind, as a philosopher it is one's responsibility to lead people to a Good life in a Just society. Hence, in the Republic, philosophers are kings.

Suppose we think this is a good idea, for the Republic, that we concede the point that philosophers are best fit to lead Plato's Just society, given their reasoning ability and knowledge of the forms. What, then, would we say about having a career in academic philosophy?

Clearly, 21st century society in the USA is quite different from that of Ancient Greece. Along with political, economic and technical changes, the role of the philosopher has been altered over the past 2500 years. With the division of labor and the specialization of the university, philosophy is an exercise conducted in armchairs and classrooms.

Assuming that in order to "be a philosopher" one must be an academic philosopher, are contemporary philosophers living up to their responsibility to go "back into the cave," or does the institution of the university make it impossible to fulfill this duty? If philosophers are concerned with the Good life and Just society, is it enough to teach college and graduate students? Should philosophers be more engaged in public life?

Moreover, as college graduates contemplating our futures, how should we weigh the idea of pursuing a PhD in philosophy versus, say, one in public policy, or against going into the workforce for a worthy non-profit?

I'm not sure of my opinion on these questions, but I do believe that being an academic philosopher is not enough, if one values things such as a Good life and Just society. It seems to me that academic philosophers need to go further into the cave, perhaps meaning they begin teaching younger students or those who can't afford top-flight educations, or that they engage in more practical activities in which their superior powers of reasoning could be of great public benefit.

What do you guys think?

--Alex