> The clump of molecules on the table we denote with the term "apple" doesn't care that our brains have deemed it similar enough to certain other clumps of mole

> The clump of molecules on the table we denote with the term "apple" doesn't care that our brains have deemed it similar enough to certain other clumps of molecules to be placed in the same category. If all humans cease to exist, the clump of molecules may still be on the table, but there's no one left to consider it part of any category. Correct. If all humans cease to exist, the human-made abstraction of "the apple" passes away. But an apple--the one on the table--is completely unaffected. The difference here is that between an abstraction and a concrete instantiation of said abstraction. The abstraction of "the apple" is indeed a subjective construct which would pass away with humanity. But OP said "an apple". "An apple" is a part of the physical universe. It is, like you said, a clump of molecules. Molecules that can be measured objectively. An apple is no more subjective than the orbital period of the earth or the length of the standard meter.