1986 - Mapping Explanation-Based Generalization onto Soar

Explanation-based generalization (EBG) is a powerful approach to concept formation in which a justifiable concept definition is acquired from a single training example and an underlying theory of how the example is an instance of the concept. Soar is an attempt to build a general cognitive architecture combining general learning, problem solving, and memory capabilities. It includes an independently developed learning mechanism, called chunking, that is similar to but not the same as explanation-based generalization. In this article we clarify the relationship between the explanation-based generalization framework and the Soar/chunking combination by showing how the EBG framework maps onto Soar, how several EBG conceptformation tasks are implemented in Soar, and how the Soar approach suggests answers to some of the outstanding issues in explanation-based generalization.