In theory, we speak of a particle as having properties.
In reality, the measurement of any property is just an interaction between the target to be measured, and the measuring apparatus, where the measurement affects both the target and the apparatus.
So any property we can measure about a particle, is described in terms of all other particles and their properties. (It's all rather circular.)
In effect, we have a way of describing a universe of n particles, with n-1 particles. Since it was only through changes in the n-1 particles that we determined we had an nth.
Continue this 'rewriting' and inductively you will end with 1 'particle' with several properties that are functions of themselves.
So can we say the universe is just 1 thing, and we have artificially subdivided it for a more convenient representation? If this is an explored idea, where can I learn more?
(originally asked/closed here: https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/50062/is-the-idea-of-dividing-the-universe-into-particles-anything-more-than-an-untrue)
EDIT
Quantum Field Theory suggests there are no particles, but instead variations/ripples in a field. "Everything is fields". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_field_theory
EDIT 2
Perhaps there is only geometry: https://www.simonsfoundation.org/quanta/20130917-a-jewel-at-the-heart-of-quantum-physics/