Ralbag

Levi ben Gershon (Ralbag) was a Provencal philosopher, physician, mathematician, astronomer, talmudic commentator, and Torah commentator. He seems to never have accepted a rabbinic post, and little is known about his life – even the place and date of his death is unclear. Ralbag was a strict Aristotelian, and in his great philosophical work, Milchamot Hashem, he critiques Rambam on some points where he deviates from Aristotelian teaching. He was also a fervent believer in astrology, and astrological determinism pervades his philosophical work, though he did believe in human free will. His philosophical views led to opposition to his works in some circles. His mathematical works were sophisticated and ground-breaking, and he is noted for his work in combinatorics and early use of the principle of mathematical induction. Some of his works were translated into Latin at the request of Christian scholars. Ralbag was credited for inventing the "Jacob's staff," an astronomical device. Finally, he is perhaps best known today for his commentary on Tanakh, which displays his wide learning and interweaves halakhic matters and rulings. He wrote several talmudic works, most of which have been lost.