______ in our way to possessing virtue, besides the vices already mentioned, are ignorance and the lack of self-control that is the failing of men of good intentions but weak will, who let their passions drag them into wrong doing.

“Vices”, “ignorance”, “lack of self - control” and “weak will” highlights the negative tone of the sentence; thus the blank characterizes negative connotation. This implies that weak will (and other negative expressions in the sentence) are the biggest “impediments” (obstacles, hindrance) in our way to do good. Hence, (1) is the answer.