<p>Searle's Chinese room is analogical and is intended to present an easy-to-understand picture of the essential elements and processes of the digital computer. In the room the man (CPU) has a book of intructions (program) for responding to Chinese input questions. That is just one program of many possible programs the room could run. Each different program would be a different instruction book. SOAR would be just one of those books.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-28T12:43:53.137Z
Yes, this seems reasonable, but I think you should say something about what SOAR is trying to do, i.e. is SOAR only manipulating symbols, etc.? I think this is the crux of the question.
nbro
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-30T12:48:28.653Z
I can emulate the hardware of a computer, on a computer.  In that emulation I can run a program.  If I wanted to be a little recursive the program itself could be emulation, arguably of much simpler hardware.  Together this system might comprise an inception-like box within a box within a box.  Can I understand your answer to mean that any computer is the Chinese box, an anti-Turing?
EngrStudent
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-28T08:51:48.517Z
2020-03-28T08:51:48.517Z
Roddus
<p>Soar is a cognitive architecture.    </p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soar_(cognitive_architecture)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soar_(cognitive_architecture)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://soar.eecs.umich.edu/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://soar.eecs.umich.edu/</a></li>
</ul>

<p>There is something called "the Chinese box" or "Chinese room" argument:    </p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_room" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_room</a></li>
<li><a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/chinese-room/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/chinese-room/</a> </li>
</ul>

<p>The "Chinese room" seems to be begging its question, but that is not what I am asking.  I am asking if there is any literal difference between a tool like "SOAR" and the formalism of the "Chinese box".  Is SOAR identical or equivalent to a "Chinese Box"?  </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-11T19:04:10.580Z
Interesting question. However, the question in the title seems to be slightly different than the question in the body. Maybe clarify this!
nbro
<philosophy><cognitive-science><chinese-room-argument><cognitive-architecture><soar>
Is the Cognitive Approach (SOAR) equivalent to the Chinese Room argument?
EngrStudent
# Is the Cognitive Approach (SOAR) equivalent to the Chinese Room argument?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-03-11)

Soar is a cognitive architecture.

* <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soar_(cognitive_architecture)>
* <https://soar.eecs.umich.edu/>

There is something called "the Chinese box" or "Chinese room" argument:

* <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_room>
* <https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/chinese-room/>

The "Chinese room" seems to be begging its question, but that is not what I am asking. I am asking if there is any literal difference between a tool like "SOAR" and the formalism of the "Chinese box". Is SOAR identical or equivalent to a "Chinese Box"?

**Tags:** philosophy, cognitive-science, chinese-room-argument, cognitive-architecture, soar

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Interesting question. However, the question in the title seems to be slightly different than the question in the body. Maybe clarify this!  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-03-28. Score: 1

Searle's Chinese room is analogical and is intended to present an easy-to-understand picture of the essential elements and processes of the digital computer. In the room the man (CPU) has a book of intructions (program) for responding to Chinese input questions. That is just one program of many possible programs the room could run. Each different program would be a different instruction book. SOAR would be just one of those books.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Yes, this seems reasonable, but I think you should say something about what SOAR is trying to do, i.e. is SOAR only manipulating symbols, etc.? I think this is the crux of the question.  
> **username_0**: I can emulate the hardware of a computer, on a computer.  In that emulation I can run a program.  If I wanted to be a little recursive the program itself could be emulation, arguably of much simpler hardware.  Together this system might comprise an inception-like box within a box within a box.  Can I understand your answer to mean that any computer is the Chinese box, an anti-Turing?  

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