Ehrlich, Johann Nepomuk

EHRLICH, JOHANN NEPOMUK. - Piarist, b. in Vienna on 21 February 1810, d. in Prague on 23 October 1864. Professor of philosophy at Krems (1836), of moral theology at Graz (1850), of moral and fundamental theology and of the science of religion at Prague from 1852 onward. Of acute and penetrating intellect, of vast and well-organized erudition, he applied his gifts to a valid defense of religion, which rightly makes him be considered one of the founders of fundamental theology, but he allowed himself to be influenced too much by the Cartesian and Güntherian school. He was awarded a gold medal by Francis Joseph and called to the Council of Public Instruction; he was also enrolled in several academies.

Of his works the most noteworthy are: Leitfaden der Metaphysik (Krems 1841); Das Christentum und die Religionen des Morgenlandes (Vienna 1842); Lehre von der Bestimmung des Menschen als rationale Theologie (2 vols., ibid. 1842-45); Randglossen zu J. Fröbel's System der sozialen Politik (Krems 1849); Über der christliche Princip der Gesellschaft (Prague 1856); Der Mensch und der Staat (ibid. 1862); Leitfaden für Vorlesungen über die allgemeine Einleitung in die teologische Wissenschaft (2 vols., ibid. 1859-1860); Apologetische Ergänzungen (2 vols., ibid. 1862-64); and most important of all for order, method and clarity: Fundamental Theologie (3 vols., ibid. 1859-62).

Celestino Testore