These constraints "always exist" in some real sense. It is just that they exist as the final cause or goal state. They are concretely realised by the end when the forces of constraining order have put an end to the hot jiggle of the material possibilities.

Interesting thoughts here. So am I understanding correctly that you are saying that a “newly instantiated idea” is not necessarily something new being instantiated but the final form in new order of that which has already been instantiated?

Thanks for the responses so far, I’ll check out emergentism. I also think that if we grant immanent realism then an idea would have an ontology,

For those to whom I have been confusing, I’ll try to restate in an arrangement of propositions.

(1) An idea exists.
(2) That idea has a universal ontology in virtue of its existence.
(3) That ontological makeup is contained within that idea
(4) That idea began to exist at some point
(5) Ideas are instantiated through encounters with other instantiation of the idea

How could that idea begin to exist without encountering an instantiation of the idea?

Hopefully this gives a clearer structure to tear apart.