ABSTRACT. The issues Sainsbury wishes to discuss lie within the hypothesis that a theory2 of meaning (that relates to language in general) should essentially involve consideration of theories1 of meaning (that relate to a single language, L); a philosophical account of meaning should proceed by considering the nature of theories of meaning. Sainsbury's only ultimate philosophical goal is to attain a philosophical understanding of the nature of meaning in general. What Sainsbury challenges is either the justification for or the correctness of certain constraints on theories of meaning that are required in the light of this ultimate aim.