Final answer:
Benjamin Franklin believes personal imperfections and distractions keep him from being a better person, highlighting the difficult balance between thirteen virtues he advocates and the unpredictability of life. His values strongly influence the concept of republican virtue, emphasizing self-improvement and discipline over unearned privilege.
Step-by-step explanation:
In The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Franklin states that what keeps him from becoming a better person is his engagement with life's complexities that divert him from a thorough commitment to his virtues. The main answer to the question of what Franklin believes hinders personal improvement is his acknowledgment of human imperfection and distraction. For instance, while he lists thirteen virtues essential for self and civic improvement, he recognizes that it is challenging to adhere to them strictly due to life's unpredictable nature and individual limitations.
Franklin's philosophy often ignores the fact that circumstances such as inheritance and societal position can affect personal virtue and the trajectory of success. His values define the notion of republican virtue as something rooted in personal effort and moral fortitude derived from self-discipline and hard work, rather than unearned privilege.
When considering a situation where children inherit great wealth instead of working for it, he would likely acknowledge the challenges that come with maintaining virtue when not strictly earned, emphasizing that virtues are not only about success but about character development.