There are infinitely many theorems of mathematics, but only a tiny portion of them are interesting enough to be publishable in a research journal. Is the criterion for which theorems are interesting purely subjective, or are there some objective criteria? I know this is a soft question, but the reason I am asking this is because I got into an argument with a friend about whether mathematical theorems are objectively interesting. I told him that it is a purely subjective matter, and that at the end of the day, it only matters whether one's university research grant board deems it interesting enough research to pay you. He said that while it is partially subjective, there are still some objective criteria as to what makes a theorem research paper worthy. And so, I am asking the question here, in hopes of getting some fruitful answers.
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