Does anyone know if there is there a name for the idea that new concepts (such as negative numbers, complex numbers or type constructors in a type system) are only ever introduced into a preexisting "system" so that they can be eliminated later, after helping make some progress?
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Maybe transient or intermediate
I think "transient" describes it well. I hoped there might be a more formal name for the general principle (in a philosophical sense) but "transient" might actually be as close as I'll get! :)
