The universe is not one thing

If the universe is “one thing” wherein everything exists, then what are the “more than one things” of a thing itself being held apart such that we can know of separate things?

The universe it not one thing. It is treated as one thing in name but it is made up of many things. The act of naming does not change the fact that it is composed of many parts.

The act of naming has the ability to do this. Naming is an arbitrary act. It is semiotically possible but not necessarily correct. By convention we accept these labels.

As stated before, naming does not necessarily equate to existence.