Why Do Stories Outlast Civilizations? | Brian Greene & Ian McEwan | World Science Festival

Why do stories endure across centuries—and what do they reveal about the essence of being human? Brian Greene sits down with Booker Prize–winning author Ian McEwan to explore the timeless power of storytelling, the evolution of human nature, and the future of creativity in the age of artificial intelligence. They examine how literature and science both search for truth and meaning—how we can still understand texts from Shakespeare & Homer hundreds or thousands of years later, and why our shared human emotions remain unchanged. McEwan reflects on mortality, memory, and beauty as central to storytelling, while Greene draws striking parallels between narrative, physics, and the pursuit of knowledge. This program is part of the Rethinking Reality series, supported by the John Templeton Foundation. Participant: Ian McEwan Moderator: Brian Greene #worldsciencefestival #briangreene #cosmology #author Don't miss a video! Subscribe NOW: https://www.youtube.com/worldsciencef... ABOUT WORLD SCIENCE FESTIVAL: The World Science Festival (WSF) is a multimedia organization bringing the most transformative ideas in science to global audiences. Through long- and short-form videos spanning physics, cosmology, quantum mechanics, biology, neuroscience, consciousness, medicine, space exploration, the dilemma of free will, artificial intelligence, engineering, robotics, and beyond. WSF gathers world-renowned scientists, artists, and thinkers for dynamic discussions, debates, lectures, performances, films, and immersive live experiences. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in New York City, the World Science Festival is a production of the World Science Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to cultivate a public informed by science, inspired by its wonder, convinced of its value, and prepared to engage with its implications for the future. With live events reaching millions worldwide and hundreds of millions of digital views, WSF continues to expand its global impact through festivals, educational initiatives like World Science U, and digital content that explores the near and far future of our world. FOLLOW WORLD SCIENCE FESTIVAL: Website: https://worldsciencefestival.com/ Instagram:   / worldscifest   TikTok:   / worldscifest   X(Twitter):   / worldscifest   Facebook:   / worldsciencefestival   LinkedIn:   / world-science-festival   Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:40 – The Intuitive Evolution of Storytelling Through Time 09:35 – Storytelling as a Means of Confronting Mortality 17:33 – The Central Role of Women in Literary Readership 27:33 – Creative Process: Structured Design vs. Spontaneous Flow 36:00 – Exploring the Essence of Human Nature 45:55 – The Necessity of Truth in the Human Experience 53:50 – Unpacking the True Nature of Originality 01:00:44 – Rethinking the Meaning of Intelligence 01:08:40 – Closing Reflections and Credits Why Do Stories Outlast Civilizations? | Brian Greene & Ian McEwan    / @worldsciencefestival