From a purely scientific and mathematical perspective, '1 + 1 = 2' is an analytic truth, meaning its veracity can be determined solely by understanding the definitions of its constituent terms. It is a fundamental axiom or a direct consequence of axioms within formal systems like Peano arithmetic or Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory. These systems are designed to be consistent and complete (where possible), building a logical edifice from a minimal set of unproven statements. The truth of '1 + 1 = 2' is thus not empirical, but arises from the internal consistency and logical structure of mathematics itself.