/library/oar/handle/123456789/296 2026-06-14T06:54:38Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/147133 Title: The circuit of cognition : operational closure and the interpenetration of views. Comment on “The affective grounds of the mind. The affective pertinentization (APER) model” by Salvatore et al. Authors: Sammut, Gordon; Mifsud, Rebekah; Brockdorff, Noellie Abstract: In proposing APER, Salvatore and colleagues pose three premises based on the primacy of affect in human experience as a fundamental and elementary form of interpretation (p. 148). We agree that cognition involves cold and hot elements, loosely distinguishable as thoughts and emotions respectively, but we claim that these operate in parallel rather than in series. Consequently, no single process in human cognition can be deemed primary, as these processes operate in tandem to facilitate or inhibit action. Social psychological models that have been proposed on the basis of the distinction between hot and cold cognition (i.e. Elaboration- Likelihood Model and Heuristic-Systematic Model) have required revision to cater for parallel processing when hot and cold routes are activated simultaneously [extract] 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/147123 Title: Cracking the black box : the quest to understand the machines that run our lives Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) is now part of everyday life. It recommends what we watch online, helps banks approve loans, assists doctors in hospitals and even acts as a digital gatekeeper for who gets hired. Many people enjoy the convenience of these systems, yet, few truly understand how they work. That is where the ‘Explainable AI’ notion comes in. Essentially, it is a growing movement that is aimed at increasing AI transparency, to earn user trust. For years, AI systems were treated like mysterious ‘black boxes’. You feed information into them and they produce an answer. However, at times, it proves hard to clearly explain how they have reached their conclusions. Even the engineers who have built these systems sometimes struggle to fully understand the internal reasoning behind complex AI models. This becomes worrying when AI is used in areas such as healthcare, education, banking, policing or public services. Imagine applying for a loan and being rejected by an AI system without any explanation. Alternatively, consider a hospital using AI to help doctors diagnose patients without anyone being able to explain why the system recommended a particular treatment. In such situations, people may naturally ask: Why did the machine decide this? Explainable AI (XAI) tries to answer that question. 2026-05-30T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/146807 Title: The emergence of layers and structures in photography Abstract: This essay by Prof. Trevor Borg explores the multifaceted photographic practice of Joseph P. Smith as presented in his retrospective exhibition, STILL TIME (2026). Borg analyses how Smith constructs fluid narratives of "place" by blending documentary realism, ethnography, and geometric abstraction. The text examines the dual nature of photography to simultaneously reveal and conceal, transforming specific architectural, urban, and natural landscapes into tightly cropped, decontextualized layers of meaning. Drawing on spatial theories from thinkers like de Certeau, Lefebvre, and Sontag, Borg highlights how Smith's imagery captures everything from weathered, decaying vernacular spaces to structured contemporary architecture, ultimately inviting viewers to actively inhabit and reconstruct these visual narratives through their own imagination. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/146806 Title: Practice, knowledge and collaboration Abstract: This graduation oration, delivered by Professor Trevor Borg at the University of Malta, explores the evolving landscape of contemporary art and design practice within higher education. Emphasizing "Practice as Research" (PaR), the address articulates how artistic production, material engagement, and creative making generate unique forms of qualitative, non-propositional knowledge. Professor Borg highlights the transformative power of cross-disciplinary collaboration, hybrid research methodologies, and the systemic role of productive experimentation and failure in institutional research frameworks. The text underscores the university's vital responsibility to cultivate flexible, safe, and reflexive environments that encourage students to embrace uncertainty, challenge normative assumptions, and contribute meaningfully to the broader knowledge economy. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z