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 Gratz (1850), and, from 1852 onward, of moral and fundamental theology and of the science of religion at Prague. Of keen and penetrating intelligence, with broad and well-organized learning, he applied his gifts to a vigorous defence of religion, which rightly makes him one of the co-founders of fundamental theology; but he allowed himself to be overly influenced by the Cartesian and Güntherian school. Francesco Giuseppe awarded him a gold medal and appointed him to the Council of Public Education; he was also admitted to several academies.
Among 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, the most important of all for its arrangement, method, and clarity: Fundamental Theologie (3 vols., ibid. 1859-62).