I'm looking for a word which describes a person or ethical/religious code or whatever which emphasises self-improvement. That is, that the point of it is to fix one's flaws and vices and whatnot.
I've found two words which are close but not exactly what I mean – ascetic might work except that suggests a real strictness about it, whilst virtuous might be something to strive towards, and not the actual belief in wanting to become one.
Best Answer
There is self religion:
Also stoicism has self-help (self-improvement) ideology in it.
A word for a person or concept that puts emphasis on self-improvement would be "flourishing".
Thus, eudaimonia or eudaimonism is a related concept. It is a Greek word but it is also a loan word in English. In modern psychology, it is conceptualized in six factors, one of which is personal growth.