Happy to report I received tenure (again). Thanks to my amazing and supportive colleagues in the Cog Sci department at Vassar and to all of my incredible students, collaborators, mentors, and advisors throughout my career
Steve Flusberg
@sflusberg.bsky.social
Cognitive Scientist @ Vassar College. Interested in language, metaphor, and thought, amongst other things
This is a companion to our recent episode with @sflusberg.bsky.social. Here, we take AI as an case study in how metaphors reflect and shape understanding. The discussion centers around @melaniemitchell.bsky.social's excellent essay in @science.org: www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1...
The metaphors of artificial intelligence
A few months after ChatGPT was released, the neural network pioneer Terrence Sejnowski wrote about coming to grips with the shock of what large language models (LLMs) could do: “Something is beginning...
science.org
I enjoyed talking with @kensycoop.bsky.social on the Many Minds podcast about the metaphors we use to conceptualize AI. manyminds.libsyn.com/seven-metaph...
Many Minds: Seven metaphors for AI
If you wanted a petri dish for understanding metaphors—how they emerge and evolve and jostle with each other—it would be hard to do better than the world of AI. We talk about AI systems variously as c...
manyminds.libsyn.com
Analogy and metaphor galore! I was interviewed by the @nightsciencepod.bsky.social podcast about metaphor and analogy in science: open.spotify.com/episode/1hqU... Pairs well with @sflusberg.bsky.social's interview on metaphor on the @manymindspod.bsky.social podcast disi.org/the-aura-of-...
bsky.app
The late philosopher Daniel Dennett had a notable penchant for metaphor—but he rarely used just one. Instead, he often engaged in what @sflusberg.bsky.social calls "metaphorical triangulation." Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode! Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
Surely one of the most timelessly alluring questions in all of metaphor research. Was excited to hear @sflusberg.bsky.social's take on this one! (which I won't spoil)
Many Minds podcast@manymindspod.bsky.social · 6mo agoWe can all agree that metaphors are nice. But are they also sometimes necessary? Could there be ideas we simply can't approach literally, thoughts we can't think without metaphors? Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @sflusberg.bsky.social! Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
We can all agree that metaphors are nice. But are they also sometimes necessary? Could there be ideas we simply can't approach literally, thoughts we can't think without metaphors? Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @sflusberg.bsky.social! Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
Such a fun and interesting, really thought-provoking episode! 😀
Many Minds podcast@manymindspod.bsky.social · 6mo agoNew episode, first of 2026!! 🎉🎙️ A deep dive into metaphor with @sflusberg.bsky.social! Metaphors delight, provoke, captivate, shock, and galvanize us. What does it say about the human mind that we simply can't escape them—and frankly don't want to? Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
Nice interview and discussion about the cool work of @vassar.bsky.social professor @sflusberg.bsky.social
Many Minds podcast@manymindspod.bsky.social · 6mo agoNew episode, first of 2026!! 🎉🎙️ A deep dive into metaphor with @sflusberg.bsky.social! Metaphors delight, provoke, captivate, shock, and galvanize us. What does it say about the human mind that we simply can't escape them—and frankly don't want to? Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
Delightful geek-out with @sflusberg.bsky.social! In which we discuss... - why we love metaphors - "beige flags" & "aura-farming" - good vs bad metaphors - theory-constitutive metaphors in science - Dennett's technique of "metaphorical triangulation" - the "brain as computer" metaphor (??) - etc.!!
Many Minds podcast@manymindspod.bsky.social · 6mo agoNew episode, first of 2026!! 🎉🎙️ A deep dive into metaphor with @sflusberg.bsky.social! Metaphors delight, provoke, captivate, shock, and galvanize us. What does it say about the human mind that we simply can't escape them—and frankly don't want to? Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
I was absolutely thrilled to chat with Kensy about metaphor for one of my favorite podcasts. Check it out!
Many Minds podcast@manymindspod.bsky.social · 6mo agoNew episode, first of 2026!! 🎉🎙️ A deep dive into metaphor with @sflusberg.bsky.social! Metaphors delight, provoke, captivate, shock, and galvanize us. What does it say about the human mind that we simply can't escape them—and frankly don't want to? Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
I was delighted to be featured in this charming podcast hosted by the brilliant poet Jack Underwood
Falling Tree Productions@fallingtreeprod.bsky.social · 7mo agoTonight in BBC Radio 4’s Illuminated, the poet Jack Underwood offers his services as a metaphor consultant, for a very reasonable fee. Listen to The Metaphor Consultant in the Illuminated podcast Produced by Eleanor McDowall www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Huge congratulations to the brilliant Nora Newcombe, recipient of the 2025 David E. Rumelhart Prize! 🏅#CogSci2025
We’re hiring a tenure track assistant professor in our amazing Vassar cognitive science department! If you have any questions, let me know. I’ll be at Cog Sci in San Francisco all week if you’d like to chat in person
Josh de Leeuw@joshdeleeuw.bsky.social · last yr.Vassar College is hiring a tenure track assistant professor in cognitive science. vassar.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Vassar... I'll be at #CogSci2025 - happy to chat about the position and life at Vassar.
It seems like as good a day as any to repost links to the five metaphor-based animations we created - based on this paper journals.plos.org/plosone/arti... - about the importance of #vaccines. @sflusberg.bsky.social First one: A castle metaphor for how vaccines work youtu.be/DOD854panQg?...
How do vaccines work? A castle metaphor
YouTube video by Science Animated
youtu.be
My lovely dept at Vassar is seeking a one-year VAP who can teach Clinical courses. More info at the link below. Come join us! employment.vassar.edu/postings/4331
In the latest PSPI, @sflusberg.bsky.social and his team provide a comprehensive review of framing-effects research, including describing a survey of common framing effects and a taxonomy of linguistic framing techniques.
Unraveling the Power and Influence of Language
The study of framing effects is a multidisciplinary line of research that investigates when, how, and why language influences those who receive a message and how it impacts their response. This scienc...
psychologicalscience.org
For my first post, I'm excited to share a new paper just out in Psych Science in the Public Interest. We've written a comprehensive review of the linguistic framing literature, including a new taxonomy of framing effects, an emphasis on mechanisms, and much more! journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
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