It is shown that matroid theory may provide a natural mathematical framewor
k for a duality symmetries not only for quantum Yang-Mills physics, but als
o for M-theory. Our discussion is focused in an action consisting purely of
the Chern-Simons term, but in principle the main ideas can be applied beyo
nd such an action. In our treatment the theorem due to Thistlethwaite, whic
h gives a relationship between the Tutte polynomial for graphs and Jones po
lynomial for alternating knots and links, plays a central role. Before addr
essing this question we briefly mention some important aspects of matroid t
heory and we point out a connection between the Fano matroid and D=11 super
gravity. Our approach also seems to be related to loop solutions of quantum
gravity based in an Ashtekar formalism. (C) 2000 American Institute of Phy
sics. [S0022-2488(00)00712-X].