Is the Cognitive Approach (SOAR) equivalent to the Chinese Room argument?

Question

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"?

Answer 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.