This article reviews the analytical, conceptual, and philosophical foundations upon which is based the human conception that François Perroux promotes to define the “composite exchange” compared to the “pure exchange” of homo economicus. The first section shows: 1) that composite exchange is a criticism of the rationalism of marginalist and general equilibrium models, 2) that this criticism is based on a series of concepts that define the system that Perroux always supported (domination effect, fight-competitions, conflict-cooperations, human costs, gifts, forced transfer). The second section highlights that these categories have their origin in a conception of man that draws from spiritualist and personalist philosophies. This conception of man pertains to Perroux’s Christian ecumenism and refers to the social doctrine of the Church. In a third part we point out that this conception is reflected in the specific form of corporatism that Perroux defends.