How does Hegelianism combine idealism and realism?

Hegelianism, or Absolute Idealism, does not combine idealism and realism in the traditional sense of reconciling two separate entities. Instead, it seeks to overcome the divide between them by arguing that reality is fundamentally rational and spiritual.12

Hegel’s approach is defined by the following principles:

• Substance as Subject: Hegel argued that reality should be understood as "Subject"—a conscious agent or Spirit—rather than merely as a static "Substance" or external object. By asserting that "the rational is the real," he posited that the structure of reality is identical to the structure of thought.231
• Transcending Kantian Dualism: Hegel rejected the Kantian distinction between the "phenomenon" (the world as it appears) and the "noumenon" (the thing-in-itself). He aimed to prove that reason is capable of "absolute knowledge," allowing human consciousness to grasp the true essence of reality rather than just appearances.3
• Dialectical Process: Through a dialectical movement—immediacy, alienation, and the negation of the negation—Hegel sought to reconcile the subjective mind with the objective world, viewing both as expressions of the Absolute Idea.42