Full Idea
Individual things are constructs built for second-best tracking of real patterns. They are not necessarily linguistic constructions, since some non-human animals almost certainly cognitively construct them.
Gist of Idea
Things are constructs for tracking patterns (and not linguistic, because animals do it)
Source
J Ladyman / D Ross (Every Thing Must Go [2007], 4.5)
Book Reference
Ladyman,J/Ross,D: 'Every Thing Must Go' [OUP 2007], p.242
A Reaction
Delighted to see animals making an appearance. Fans of language-based metaphysics please note. If they are fictional constructs, why do they do such a good job of tracking? What generates the 'superficial' appearance that there are objects?