This paper aims to clarify and explicate Humeʼs two definitions of “cause.” These definitions are not reductive, since they do not analyze the idea of causation into its parts; nor are they ostensive in that they do not directly point to the core element of causation. Rather, Humeʼs definitions are “causal” and describe situations in which the idea of causation is formed in our minds. I argue that once Humeʼs definitions are understood this way, typical objections to them are off the mark. In addition, I point out that they play a constitutive role in preventing the idea of causation from being more obscure, by excluding wrong analyses of causation that lead to a mistaken conception of causation.
